Cryptically close to translation: time period in the middle? (7)

I believe the answer is:

interim

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'cryptically close to translation time period in the middle?' is the definition.
I can't tell whether this defines the answer.

'cryptically close to translation time period in the middle?' is the wordplay.
'cryptically' indicates an anagram.
'close to' says to take the final letters (the 'close' to the word).
'in the middle?' says to take the centre (I've seen 'in the middle' mean this).
The central letters of 'period' are 'ri'.
The final letter of 'translation' is 'n'.
'n'+'time'+'ri'='ntimeri'
'ntimeri' is an anagram of 'INTERIM'.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for interim that I've seen before include "Caretaker" , "Meantime - provisional" , "acting" , "Meantime; temporary" , ", I'm put in grave situation initially" .)

I've seen this clue in the Sydney Morning Herald.

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