Chaucer's steward by any chance keeping end of tale back? (5)
I believe the answer is:
reeve
'chaucer's steward' is the definition.
'reeve' can be an answer for 'steward' (I've seen this before). I am not certain of the 'chaucer's' bit.
'by any chance keeping end of tale back?' is the wordplay.
'by any chance' becomes 'ever' (I've seen this in another clue).
'keeping' indicates putting letters inside.
'end of' says to take the final letters.
'back?' says the letters should be written in reverse (I've seen 'backed' mean this).
The final letter of 'tale' is 'e'.
'ever' going around 'e' is 'eveer'.
'eveer' written backwards gives 'REEVE'.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for reeve that I've seen before include "Chief magistrate, formerly" , "High official" , "Chief magistrate (hist.); pass (rope) through hole" , "Old judge" , "Feudal official of medieval England" .)