Be maudlin, perhaps, when less than sober (3)
I believe the answer is:
sob
'be' is the definition.
Although both the answer and definition are singular nouns, I can't understand how one could define the other.
I don't understand how the rest of the clue works.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for sob that I've seen before include "Cry noisily" , "making one gasp" , "Contemptible person in North America briefly" , "Weep uncontrollably" , "Weep audibly" .)