Crossword Genius

After last of cava in pub, one friend becomes unconscious (9)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

inanimate

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'unconscious' is the definition.
(thesaurus)

'after last of cava in pub one friend' is the wordplay.
'after last of cava' becomes 'a' (I can't explain this - if you can you should give a lot more credence to this answer).
'in' is an insertion indicator.
'pub' becomes 'inn' (an inn is a type of pub).
'one' becomes 'I' (Roman numeral).
'friend' becomes 'mate' (mate is a kind of friend).
'a' inserted within 'inn' is 'inan'.
'inan'+'i'+'mate'='INANIMATE'

'becomes' acts as a link.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for inanimate that I've seen before include "unable to move" , "Still" , "lacking in spirit" , "Dull" , "Showing no feeling" .)

I've seen this clue in The Guardian.
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