Depressed, but able to hearten followers (3)
I believe the answer is:
low
'depressed' is the definition.
(I know that depressed can be written as low)
'able to hearten followers' is the wordplay.
'LOW' is hidden within the letters.
However, I'm uncertain how the hidden word is indicated.
'but' acts as a link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for low that I've seen before include "Depressed or base" , "sound from Hereford?" , "Unimportant sort of owl" , "Deep; moo" , "Not high - that's mean" .)