Chapter by sick journalist, relaxed (7)
I believe the answer is:
chilled
'relaxed' is the definition.
Both the definition and answer are adjectives. Perhaps they are linked in a way I don't understand?
'chapter by sick journalist' is the wordplay.
'chapter' becomes 'ch'.
'by' is a charade indicator (letters next to each other).
'sick' becomes 'ill' (synonyms).
'journalist' becomes 'ed' (short for editor).
'ch'+'ill'+'ed'='CHILLED'
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for chilled that I've seen before include "Kept very cold" , "Horrified" , "Made cold" , "Cooled" .)