Cry reportedly for sea beast (5)
I believe the answer is:
whale
'sea beast' is the definition.
The definition and answer can be both animals as well as being singular nouns.
Maybe they are linked in a way I don't understand?
'cry reportedly' is the wordplay.
'cry' becomes 'wail' (wailing is a kind of crying).
'reportedly' indicates a 'sounds like' (homophone) clue.
'wail' is a homophone of 'WHALE'.
'for' is the link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for whale that I've seen before include "Largest animal" , "Aquatic mammal" , "One wallowing in the drink" , "Biblical swallower of Jonah" , "Moby-Dick" .)