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Tested guided missile power at first (7)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

sampled

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'tested' is the definition.
Although both the answer and definition are past participle verbs, I can't understand how they can define each other.

'guided missile power at first' is the wordplay.
'guided' becomes 'led' ('lead' can be a synonym of 'guide').
'missile' becomes 'sam' (SAM is an example).
'power' becomes 'p'.
'at first' means one lot of letters go next to another.
'sam'+'p'='samp'
'led' after 'samp' is 'SAMPLED'.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for sampled that I've seen before include "Tasted" , "tried" .)

I've seen this clue in The Telegraph.
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