Academic article to encompass (5)
I believe the answer is:
bathe
'encompass' is the definition.
Although both the answer and definition are verbs in their base form, I can't understand how they can define each other.
'academic article' is the wordplay.
'academic' becomes 'ba'.
'article' becomes 'the' (the definite article).
'ba'+'the'='BATHE'
'to' is the link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for bathe that I've seen before include "Wash by immersion" , "Wash in water" , "Steep" , "Become immersed in" , "Take dip in sea" .)