Gets from with difficulty, as the previous wife does (6)
I believe the answer is:
exacts
'gets from with difficulty as' is the definition.
I can't tell whether this defines the answer.
'previous wife does' is the wordplay.
I cannot quite see how this works, but
'previous' could be 'ex' (prefix meaning former or onetime) and 'ex' is found in the answer.
'does' could be 'acts' (I've seen this before) and 'acts' is located in the answer.
This accounts for all the letters.
This may be the basis of the clue (or it may be nonsense).
'the' is the link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for exacts that I've seen before include "Extorts" , "Insists on and obtains - sound precise" , "Insists on and obtains, say payment - sounds precise" , "making demands" , "Compels to furnish" .)