Conclude sappers like working (6)

I believe the answer is:

reason

'conclude' is the definition.
('reason' can be a synonym of 'conclude')

'sappers like working' is the wordplay.
'sappers' becomes 're' (Royal Engineers).
'like' becomes 'as'.
'working' becomes 'on'.
're'+'as'+'on'='REASON'

(Other definitions for reason that I've seen before include "Explanation; logic" , "Explanation for some event" , "Explanation or justification" , "Logic and rationality" , "Capacity for rational thought" .)

I've seen this clue in The Times.

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