Conflicted with irate editor (7)
I believe the answer is:
crossed
'conflicted' is the definition.
The definition and answer can be both to do with fundamental existence as well as being past participle verbs.
Maybe there's an association between them I don't understand?
'with irate editor' is the wordplay.
'with' says to put letters next to each other.
'irate' becomes 'cross' (I've seen this before).
'editor' becomes 'ed'.
'cross'+'ed' is 'CROSSED'.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for crossed that I've seen before include "Passed" , "Came over and < annoyed" , "Went over to the other side" , "Intersected; opposed" , "Traversed" .)