Crossword Genius

Strange commander leading line into trench (6)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

occult

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'strange' is the definition.
Both the definition and answer are adjectives. Maybe you can see an association between them that I don't see?

'commander leading line into trench' is the wordplay.
'commander' becomes 'OC' (short for officer commanding).
'leading' says to take the initial letters (the leading letter of the word).
'into' is an insertion indicator.
'trench' becomes 'cut' (cut is a kind of trench).
The first letter of 'line' is 'l'.
'l' going within 'cut' is 'cult'.
'oc'+'cult'='OCCULT'

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for occult that I've seen before include "Supernatural forces and events and beings" , "Mysticism" , "Hidden - paranormal" , "Secret - mysterious" , "Hidden; mystical" .)

I've seen this clue in The Times.
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