Crossword Genius

Flooded, get wife into a tree (5)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

awash

'flooded' is the definition.
('awash' can be a synonym of 'flooded')

'wife into a tree' is the wordplay.
'wife' becomes 'w'.
'into' indicates putting letters inside.
'tree' becomes 'ash' (ash is a kind of tree).
'a'+'ash'='aash'
'w' placed within 'aash' is 'AWASH'.

'get' is the link.

(Other definitions for awash that I've seen before include "Letting in the sea" , "Partly under water" , "Flooded with water" , "Doused in water" , "not quite under" .)

I've seen this clue in The Times.
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