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Declined to take a girl back (5)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

ailed

I'm a little stuck... Click here to teach me more about this clue!

'declined' is the definition.
Although both the answer and definition are past participle verbs, I don't understand how one could define the other.

'a girl back' is the wordplay.
'girl' becomes 'deli' (I can't justify this - if you can you should believe this answer much more).
'back' shows that the letters should be reversed in order.
'deli' backwards is 'iled'.
'a'+'iled'='AILED'

'to take' acts as a link.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for ailed that I've seen before include "was giving trouble" , "Became sick" , "Felt bad" , "was on the blink?" , "Troubled" .)

I've seen this clue in The Globe and Mail.
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