A relatively modest amount makes half-cut pacifist joyful (7)
I believe the answer is:
fistful
'a relatively modest amount' is the definition.
I can't judge whether this defines the answer.
'half-cut pacifist joyful' is the wordplay.
'half cut' means to take half the letters.
'joyful' becomes 'ful' (I am not sure about this - if you are sure you should give a lot more credence to this answer).
'pacifist' with half the letters taken is 'fist'.
'fist'+'ful'='FISTFUL'
'makes' is the link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for fistful that I've seen before include "A -- of Dollars (Clint Eastwood)" , "A -- of Dollars (film)" , "amount of dollars?" , "As much as can be held in the hand" , "Amount a hand holds" .)