Bruise symptom (4)
I believe the answer is:
ache
'bruise symptom' is the definition.
(I've seen this in another clue)
This is the entire clue.
(Other definitions for ache that I've seen before include "Suffer dull pain" , "Dull steady pain" , "Persistent dull pain" , "Dull continuous pain" , "Shakespearean character" .)