Lie about Chancellor’s initial position (7)
I believe the answer is:
recline
'initial position' is the definition.
The answer and definition can be both to do with contact as well as being verbs in their base form.
Perhaps they are linked in a way I don't understand?
'lie about chancellor's' is the wordplay.
'lie' becomes 'line' (lining is a kind of liing).
'about' means one lot of letters go next to another.
'chancellor's' becomes 'rec' (I am not sure about this - if you are sure you should give a lot more credence to this answer).
'line' put after 'rec' is 'RECLINE'.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for recline that I've seen before include "Assume horizontal or leaning position as for rest" , "Lean back to rest" , "Lie on the back or side" , "Lie in a comfortable position" , "sit back ..." .)