Crossword Genius

Apply again after a time (6)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

relate

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'apply' is the definition.
(I know that apply is a more specific form of the action relate)

'again after a time' is the wordplay.
'again' becomes 're' (prefix meaning 'again').
'after' means one lot of letters go next to another.
'a time' becomes 'late' (I can't justify this - if you can you should give a lot more credence to this answer).
're'+'late'='RELATE'

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for relate that I've seen before include "Recount" , "Do well; wave about" , "Describe an event" , "Narrate or associate" , "link" .)

I've seen this clue in the Evening Standard.
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