Defects in testaments wisehead put out (4)
I believe the answer is:
ills
'defects' is the definition.
The definition and answer can be both states of affairs as well as being plural nouns.
Perhaps there's an association between them I don't understand?
'testaments wisehead put out' is the wordplay.
'testaments' becomes 'wills' ('will' can be a synonym of 'testament').
'wisehead' becomes 'w' (head letter of 'wise').
'put out' suggests deleting specific letters.
'wills' with 'w' taken out is 'ILLS'.
'in' is the link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for ills that I've seen before include "Sicknesses or misfortunes" , "they're troublesome" , "God-like" , "infections" , "Troubles" .)