Quiet clergyman was sick, came through (9)
I believe the answer is:
prevailed
'came through' is the definition.
The definition and answer can be both to do with fundamental existence as well as being past participle verbs.
Perhaps they are linked in a way I don't understand?
'quiet clergyman was sick' is the wordplay.
'quiet' becomes 'p' (music symbol for 'piano', ie soft or quiet).
'clergyman' becomes 'rev' (short for reverend).
'was sick' becomes 'ailed' (I've seen this before).
'p'+'rev'+'ailed'='PREVAILED'
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for prevailed that I've seen before include "had his way" , "Was in force" .)