Deft comment pedant keeps back (5)
I believe the answer is:
adept
'deft' is the definition.
(thesaurus)
'comment pedant keeps back' is the wordplay.
'keeps' says the answer is hidden in the clue.
'back' says the letters should be written in reverse.
'tpeda' is hidden in the letters of 'comment pedant'.
'tpeda' back-to-front is 'ADEPT'.
(Other definitions for adept that I've seen before include "Proficient - expert" , "One very skilled at work" , "Having the skill required" , "One highly skilled could be taped" , "Handy" .)