Crossword Genius

Found nuts a bit less hard (9)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

establish

'found' is the definition.
(found can mean to set up or establish)

'nuts a bit less hard' is the wordplay.
'nuts' is an anagram indicator (nuts can mean crazy).
'hard' becomes 'h' (abbreviation used in pencil classifications).
'a'+'bit'+'less'='abitless'
'abitless' with letters rearranged gives 'establis'.
'establis'+'h'='ESTABLISH'

(Other definitions for establish that I've seen before include "Set up a business or prove to be true" , "Institute; set up" , "Show to be true in his stable" , "Set up or found" , "Set up on permanent basis, or show to be true" .)

I've seen this clue in The Telegraph.
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