Dim as can be, he was touchingly gifted (5)
I believe the answer is:
midas
'he was touchingly gifted' is the definition.
The definition suggests a singular noun which matches the answer.
'dim as can be' is the wordplay.
'can be' indicates an anagram.
'dim'+'as'='dimas'
'dimas' with letters rearranged gives 'MIDAS'.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for midas that I've seen before include "Legendary king who could turn everything to gold" , "Mythical king who had the power to turn everything to gold" , "One with a golden touch" , "my gift turned out a curse" , "Golden-touch king" .)