Removing the letters opposite (8)

I believe the answer is:

effacing

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'removing' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)

'letters opposite' is the wordplay.
'letters' becomes 'ef' (I can't justify this - if you can you should believe this answer much more).
'opposite' becomes 'facing' (I've seen this before).
'ef'+'facing'='EFFACING'

'the' acts as a link.

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(Other definitions for effacing that I've seen before include "Obliterating, erasing" , "Removing" , "Making oneself inconspicuous" .)

I've seen this clue in the Evening Standard.

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