Declined to take a girl back (5)
I believe the answer is:
ailed
'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" .)