A manner soldiers finally adopt, finding absolution (9)
I believe the answer is:
atonement
'absolution' is the definition.
The answer and definition can be both acts as well as being singular nouns.
Perhaps they are linked in a way I don't understand?
'a manner soldiers finally adopt' is the wordplay.
'manner' becomes 'tone'.
'soldiers' becomes 'men' (men can mean a group of soldiers).
'finally' says to take the final letters.
The final letter of 'adopt' is 't'.
'a'+'tone'+'men'+'t'='ATONEMENT'
'finding' is the link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for atonement that I've seen before include "Expiation of sin, penance" , "Making amends" , "needed to make amends" , "Making good" , "reparations?" .)