Determined lovers staggered editor (8)
I believe the answer is:
resolved
'determined' is the definition.
(resolving is a kind of determining)
'lovers staggered editor' is the wordplay.
'staggered' is an anagram indicator.
'editor' becomes 'ed' (abbreviation).
'lovers' with letters rearranged gives 'resolv'.
'resolv'+'ed'='RESOLVED'
(Other definitions for resolved that I've seen before include "Settled; determined" , "Worked out - determined" , "tackled crossword again?" , "Settled, found a solution" , "Settled, decided" .)