Deviate from initially deep division (5)
I believe the answer is:
drift
'deviate' is the definition.
(thesaurus)
'initially deep division' is the wordplay.
'initially' suggests taking the first letters.
'division' becomes 'rift' (I've seen this in another clue).
The first letter of 'deep' is 'd'.
'd'+'rift'='DRIFT'
'from' is the link.
(Other definitions for drift that I've seen before include "go with the tide" , "Stray" , "move around without end" , "Go with the flow" , "Meander aimlessly" .)