Depressed learner gets expression of pain with hesitation (5)
I believe the answer is:
lower
'depressed' is the definition.
Both the answer and definition are adjectives. Maybe they are linked in a way I don't understand?
'learner gets expression of pain with hesitation' is the wordplay.
'learner' becomes 'l' (as in a learner driver with L-plates on their car).
'gets' means one lot of letters go next to another.
'expression of pain' becomes 'ow'.
'with' says to put letters next to each other.
'hesitation' becomes 'er' (sound used when hesitating).
'l'+'ow'+'er'='LOWER'
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for lower that I've seen before include "subordinate" , "disgrace" , "of lesser status" , "Let down, being inferior" , "Move something down" .)