Crossword Genius

A host at last in position to calm down (7)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

placate

'calm down' is the definition.
(placating is a kind of calming down)

'a host at last in position' is the wordplay.
'at last' suggests the final letters.
'in' indicates putting letters inside.
'position' becomes 'place' ('place' can be a synonym of 'position'**).
The last letter of 'host' is 't'.
'a'+'t'='at'
'at' put into 'place' is 'PLACATE'.

'to' acts as a link.

(Other definitions for placate that I've seen before include "Make calm, conciliate" , "Mollify, calm down" , "Pale cat could pacify" , "Mollify, soothe anger" , "Mollify, appease" .)

I've seen this clue in The Times.
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