A North European returned in dismay (5)
I believe the answer is:
appal
'dismay' is the definition.
(I know that dismay can be written as appal)
'a north european returned' is the wordplay.
'north european' becomes 'lapp' (I've seen this in another clue).
'returned' says the letters should be written in reverse.
'lapp' back-to-front is 'ppal'.
'a'+'ppal'='APPAL'
'in' is the link.
(Other definitions for appal that I've seen before include "Disgust" , "Put at rest (suspicion)" , "Outrage" , "Greatly dismay" , "Greatly horrify" .)