Complain tearfully that most of the javelins are broken (6)
I believe the answer is:
snivel
'complain tearfully' is the definition.
(to snivel is to complain and cry about something)
I don't understand how the rest of the clue works.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for snivel that I've seen before include "Sniff - whine" , "Whine (with a runny nose?)" , "Complain whiningly" , "Whimper" , "moan" .)