Describe as good-looking, now? (7)

I believe the answer is:
explain
'describe' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)
'as good-looking now?' is the wordplay.
I cannot really understand how this works, but
'as' could be 'in' (I've seen this in other clues) and 'in' is located in the answer.
This may be the basis of the clue (or it may be nonsense).
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for explain that I've seen before include "Show the whys and wherefores" , "Resolve" , "Make comprehensible" , "area affected by mountain formation?" , "Give reason for" .)
