Wash two articles previously black (5)
I believe the answer is:
bathe
'wash' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)
'two articles previously black' is the wordplay.
'two articles' means two substitutions for 'article'.
'article' becomes 'a' (indefinite article).
'article' becomes 'the' (the 'definite article' part of speech**).
'previously' is a charade indicator (letters next to each other).
'black' becomes 'b' (as in pencil classifications).
'a'+'the'='athe'
'athe' after 'b' is 'BATHE'.
(Other definitions for bathe that I've seen before include "Swim or dip" , "Suffuse" , "Wash in water" , "Take a swim; envelop" , "Swim or paddle" .)