Crossword Genius

Express sympathy for tree covered with water (5)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

awash

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'covered with water' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)

'express sympathy for tree' is the wordplay.
'express sympathy for' becomes 'aw' (I can't explain this - if you can you should believe this answer much more).
'tree' becomes 'ash' (ash is a kind of tree).
'aw'+'ash'='AWASH'

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for awash that I've seen before include "Covered by water - sounds cleansing" , "Letting in the sea" , "Flood" , "Deluged" , "Flooded; about to sink" .)

I've seen this clue in The Irish Times.
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