Crossword Genius

Preserve commercial area in country since 1867

Ross

I believe the answer is:

canada

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'country since 1867' is the definition.
I can't tell whether this defines the answer.

'preserve commercial area' is the wordplay.
'preserve' becomes 'can' (canning is a kind of preserving).
'commercial' becomes 'ad'.
'area' becomes 'a' (maths abbreviation).
'can'+'ad'+'a'='CANADA'

'in' acts as a link.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for canada that I've seen before include "Its flag includes the maple leaf" , "Country to north of USA" , "- Balsam; - goose" , "Nation in northern North America" , "World's second-largest country by area" .)

I've seen this clue in The Guardian.
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