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Perfected and fitted around old city (7)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

matured

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'perfected' is the definition.
(thesaurus)

'fitted around old city' is the wordplay.
'fitted' becomes 'mated' (I can't explain this - if you can you should give a lot more credence to this answer).
'around' indicates putting letters inside.
'old city' becomes 'ur' (ancient Sumerian city state).
'mated' enclosing 'ur' is 'MATURED'.

'and' acts as a link.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for matured that I've seen before include "Developed fully" , "Ripened" , "Developed; grew up" , "Became fully ripe" , "Mellowed" .)

I've seen this clue in the Sydney Morning Herald.
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