Crossword Genius

Speaks of old scales (6)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

orates

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'speaks' is the definition.
(orating is a kind of speaking)

'old scales' is the wordplay.
'old' becomes 'o' (common abbreviation eg in OE for Old English).
'scales' becomes 'rates' (I am not sure about this - if you are sure you should give a lot more credence to this answer).
'o'+'rates'='ORATES'

'of' is the link.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for orates that I've seen before include "Talks pompously" , "Speechifies" , "Makes lengthy or pompous speech" , "Talks grandly from a platform" , "Speaks formally, makes speech" .)

I've seen this clue in The Mirror.
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