Wilt in the middle of safari ordeal (4)

I believe the answer is:

fade

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'wilt' is the definition.
(thesaurus)

'middle of safari ordeal' is the wordplay.
'middle of' indicates the central letters.
'ordeal' becomes 'de' (I can't explain this - if you can you should believe this answer much more).
The middle of 'safari' is 'fa'.
'fa'+'de'='FADE'

'in the' is the link.

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(Other definitions for fade that I've seen before include "Diminish" , "Waste away" , "Bleach or decline" , "Discolour" , "Gradually grow faint" .)

I've seen this clue in The Irish Times.

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