Awkward state-of-affairs beginning from mascot rage (4)
I believe the answer is:
mire
'rage' is the definition.
The answer and definition can be both to do with fundamental existence as well as being verbs in their base form.
Perhaps you can see a link between them that I don't see?
I don't understand the remainder of the clue.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for mire that I've seen before include "Bog - muck" , "Mud - bog" , "Swampy ground" , "Bog down in swamp" , "Emir found in mud" .)