A mischievous creature sent back, one bringing irritation? (4)
I believe the answer is:
flea
'irritation?' is the definition.
Although both the answer and definition are singular nouns, I don't understand how they can define each other.
'a mischievous creature sent back one' is the wordplay.
'a mischievous creature' becomes 'elf' (creature in folk lore).
'sent back' is a reversal indicator.
'one' becomes 'a' (a thing is one thing).
'elf' backwards is 'fle'.
'fle'+'a'='FLEA'
'bringing' is the link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for flea that I've seen before include "In one's ear, it's a stinging rebuke" , "In your ear, this insect is a rebuke" , "Wingless, jumping insect" , "Small blood-sucking insect" , "Small parasitic insect" .)