Boatman has absurd identity: lost and lifeless (7)

I believe the answer is:

abiotic

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'lifeless' is the definition.
(thesaurus)

'boatman has absurd identity lost' is the wordplay.
'boatman has' becomes 'ab' (I can't explain this - if you can you should believe this answer much more).
'absurd' becomes 'idiotic' (I've seen this before).
'identity' becomes 'id' (I've seen this in other clues).
'lost' suggests deleting specific letters.
'idiotic' with 'id' removed is 'iotic'.
'ab'+'iotic'='ABIOTIC'

'and' acts as a link.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for abiotic that I've seen before include "Sterile" , "Lifeless" .)

I've seen this clue in The Guardian.

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