Condition deplorable at first, it's said (6)
I believe the answer is:
stated
'said' is the definition.
('state' can be a synonym of 'say')
'condition deplorable at first' is the wordplay.
'condition' becomes 'state' (the state something is in).
'at first' indicates taking the first letters.
The first letter of 'deplorable' is 'd'.
'state'+'d'='STATED'
'it's' acts as a link.
(Other definitions for stated that I've seen before include "Uttered, expressed in words" , "Expressed in written or spoken words" , "Close-fitting; drunk" , "Declared or asserted" , "Clearly expressed" .)