Lay like a saint amid the wild deer (6)
I believe the answer is:
rested
'lay' is the definition.
('rest' can be a synonym of 'lie')
'a saint amid the wild deer' is the wordplay.
'a saint' becomes 'st'.
'amid' is an insertion indicator.
'the wild' is an anagram indicator.
'deer' is an anagram of 'reed'.
'st' placed into 'reed' is 'RESTED'.
'like' acts as a link.
(Other definitions for rested that I've seen before include "Reposed or took a breather" , "Took break in desert" , "Took one's ease" , "Relaxed, took a break" , "Took a break from activities" .)