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Make great efforts to raise to a blissful place almost (5)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

heave

I'm a little stuck... Click here to teach me more about this clue!

'make great efforts to raise' is the definition.
I can't tell whether this defines the answer.

'blissful place almost' is the wordplay.
'blissful place' becomes 'heaven' (I've seen this in another clue).
'almost' means to remove the last letter (most of the word but not all of it).
'heaven' with its last letter taken away is 'HEAVE'.

'to a' is the link.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for heave that I've seen before include "cast like this" , "Produce (a sigh); haul" , "Gasp" , "Throw with force - retch" , "Pull hard; (sea) swell" .)

I've seen this clue in The Irish Independent.
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