Relaxes with cups and saucers, repeatedly taking time out (5)
I believe the answer is:
eases
'relaxes' is the definition.
(ease can mean to relax or reduce)
'cups and saucers repeatedly taking time out' is the wordplay.
'cups and saucers' becomes 'es' (I am not sure about this - if you are sure you should give a lot more credence to this answer).
'repeatedly' says to double the letters.
'taking' indicates putting letters inside.
'time' becomes 'AD' (AD, Anno Domini, as opposed to BC, Before Christ).
'out' means to remove the last letter.
'es' duplicated is 'eses'.
'ad' with its final letter removed is 'a'.
'eses' going around 'a' is 'EASES'.
'with' is the link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for eases that I've seen before include "provides relief" , "Facilitates" , "Borders, margins" , "Lessens tensions" , "Makes less severe" .)