Crossword Genius

Change state of emergency, essentially – maybe Qatar's hosting (8)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

emigrate

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'change state' is the definition.
The definition and answer can be both related to change as well as being verbs in their base form.
Maybe you can see an association between them that I don't see?

'emergency essentially maybe qatar's hosting' is the wordplay.
'essentially' means to look at the middle letters.
'maybe qatar' becomes 'emirate' (Qatar is an emirate).
'hosting' indicates putting letters inside (inserted letters are welcomed in or hosted).
The middle letter of 'emergency' is 'g'.
'g' going within 'emirate' is 'EMIGRATE'.

'of' is the link.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for emigrate that I've seen before include "Go to settle in a foreign country" , "Leave home" , "Go to live and work in another country" , "Leave one's country to live elsewhere" , "don't come back!" .)

I've seen this clue in The Guardian.
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