Ceremony before a dreary do (9)
I believe the answer is:
pompadour
'do' is the definition.
The definition and answer can be both related to bodily activities as well as being verbs in their base form.
Maybe they are linked in a way I don't understand?
'ceremony before a dreary' is the wordplay.
'ceremony' becomes 'pomp' (I've seen this in another clue).
'before' is a charade indicator (letters next to each other).
'dreary' becomes 'dour' (I've seen this before).
'pomp'+'a'+'dour'='POMPADOUR'
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for pompadour that I've seen before include "18th century hairstyle employing a pad at the front to add bulk" , "Hairstyle associated with a mistress of Louis XV" , "Extravagant quiff" , "Lady" , "High Barnet" .)