When rife, maybe, can be hard to extinguish (4)
I believe the answer is:
fire
'extinguish' is the definition.
The answer and definition can be both related to change as well as being verbs in their base form.
Maybe you can see a link between them that I can't see?
'when rife maybe can be hard' is the wordplay.
'rife' anagrams to 'FIRE'.
But, I am not clear how the anagram is indicated.
'to' acts as a link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for fire that I've seen before include "... or combustion" , "cut" , "Flames; passion" , "Sack; discharge (a gun)" , "Weaponry" .)