A trying delay (6)
I believe the answer is:
remand
'delay' is the definition.
The answer and definition can be both acts as well as being singular nouns.
Maybe there's an association between them I don't understand?
'a trying' is the wordplay.
I cannot quite see how this works, but
'a' could be 'an' and 'an' is found within the answer.
This explanation may well be incorrect...
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for remand that I've seen before include "Legally restrain" , "Send back to await trial" , "Place (someone) on bail or in custody" , "Place of detention for young offenders" , "Send back, into custody say" .)