Crossword Genius

Pares back - not as much as 1A resident? (9)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

sleepless

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'much as 1a resident?' is the definition.
I can't tell whether this definition defines the answer.

'pares back not' is the wordplay.
'pares' becomes 'peels' ('peel' can be a synonym of 'pare').
'back' says the letters should be written backwards.
'not' becomes 'less' (I've seen this in other clues).
'peels' backwards is 'sleep'.
'sleep'+'less'='SLEEPLESS'

'as' is the link.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for sleepless that I've seen before include "Suffering from insomnia, not in the land of Nod" , "Film: '-- in Seattle'" , "Insomniac" .)

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