Crossword Genius

Adopt evacuee at last with partner (7)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

espouse

I'm a little stuck... Click here to teach me more about this clue!

'adopt evacuee' is the definition.
'espouse' can be an answer for 'adopt' (synonyms). I am unsure of the 'evacuee' bit.

'at last with partner' is the wordplay.
'at' means one lot of letters go next to another.
'last with' becomes 'e' (I can't explain this - if you can you should give a lot more credence to this answer).
'partner' becomes 'spouse' (synonyms).
'e'+'spouse' is 'ESPOUSE'.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for espouse that I've seen before include "See opus (anag)" , "Give support to - see soup (anag)" , "See opus to support a cause" , "Follow and promote a cause" , "Embrace" .)

I've seen this clue in The Times.
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