Soak in this way before application (5)
I believe the answer is:
souse
'soak' is the definition.
(I know that soak can be written as souse)
'this way before application' is the wordplay.
'this way' becomes 'so' (I've seen this in other clues).
'before' says to put letters next to each other.
'application' becomes 'use' (I've seen this in another clue).
'so'+'use'='SOUSE'
'in' is the link.
(Other definitions for souse that I've seen before include "Pickle - drunkard" , "Duck" , "thoroughly wet" , "Wash" , "dip" .)