Crossword Genius

Slowly emerged as being nothing other than a fuddled doze (5)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

oozed

I'm a little stuck... Click here to teach me more about this clue!

'slowly emerged' is the definition.
The definition and answer can be both to do with motion as well as being past participle verbs.
Maybe they are linked in a way I don't understand?

'being nothing other than a fuddled doze' is the wordplay.
'being nothing other than' becomes 'o' (I can't justify this - if you can you should believe this answer much more).
'a fuddled' indicates anagramming the letters.
'doze' anagrammed gives 'ozed'.
'o'+'ozed'='OOZED'

'as' is the link.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for oozed that I've seen before include "Seeped" , "Exuded" , "Leaked out slowly" .)

I've seen this clue in the Evening Standard.
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