Wash an article for a bachelor (5)
I believe the answer is:
bathe
'wash' is the definition.
(I've seen this in another clue)
'article for a bachelor' is the wordplay.
'article' becomes 'the' (the definite article in English).
'for' means one lot of letters go next to another (I've seen this in other clues).
'a bachelor' becomes 'BA' (abbreviation for Bachelor of Arts degree).
'the' after 'ba' is 'BATHE'.
'an' is the link.
(Other definitions for bathe that I've seen before include "Bask" , "Swim for pleasure, and clean oneself" , "bit of swimming" , "Go swimming" , "Take dip in sea" .)