Bard performed round backward old city (5)
I believe the answer is:
druid
'bard' is the definition.
The definition and answer can be both people as well as being singular nouns.
Maybe they are linked in a way I don't understand?
'performed round backward old city' is the wordplay.
'performed' becomes 'did' ('do' can be a synonym of 'perform').
'round' means one lot of letters goes inside another.
'backward' is a reversal indicator.
'old city' becomes 'ur' (ancient city state).
'ur' written backwards gives 'ru'.
'did' going around 'ru' is 'DRUID'.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for druid that I've seen before include "Ancient Celt priest" , "Ancient priest of Wales" , "Pre-Christian Celtic priest" , "Ancient Celtic priest" , "Member of Welsh Gorsedd; ancient priest" .)