Comedian has a delay (4)
I believe the answer is:
wait
'delay' is the definition.
(I know that delay is a kind of the wait)
'comedian has a' is the wordplay.
'comedian' becomes 'wit' (a witty person).
'has' is an insertion indicator.
'wit' placed around 'a' is 'WAIT'.
(Other definitions for wait that I've seen before include "Cool one's heels" , "Linger, delay" , "Hold on" , "Attend, expect" , "Be patient" .)