Start to live with spirit (5)
I believe the answer is:
begin
'start' is the definition.
(synonyms)
'live with spirit' is the wordplay.
'live' becomes 'be' (synonyms).
'with' means one lot of letters go next to another.
'spirit' becomes 'gin' (alcoholic spirit).
'be'+'gin'='BEGIN'
'to' is the link.
(Other definitions for begin that I've seen before include "Partly open" , "Clandestine, furtive" , "Launch" , "Commence" , "Initiate" .)