Live as wife in a sort of depression (5)
I believe the answer is:
dwell
'live' is the definition.
('dwell' can be a synonym of 'live')
'wife in a sort of depression' is the wordplay.
'wife' becomes 'w'.
'in' indicates putting letters inside.
'a sort of depression' becomes 'dell' (**).
'w' put inside 'dell' is 'DWELL'.
'as' acts as a link.
(Other definitions for dwell that I've seen before include "Remain" , "Settle" , "Abide, reside" , "Think moodily (on something)" , "Reside - linger" .)