Dorothy returned always before bedtime (5)
I believe the answer is:
today
'bedtime' is the definition.
The answer and definition can be both related to time as well as being singular nouns.
Maybe you can see an association between them that I can't see?
'dorothy returned always' is the wordplay.
'dorothy' becomes 'dot' (nickname for someone called Dorothy).
'returned' says the letters should be written backwards.
'always' becomes 'ay' (archaic term for 'always').
'dot' in reverse letter order is 'tod'.
'tod'+'ay'='TODAY'
'before' acts as a link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for today that I've seen before include "Nowadays" , "Presently" , "At the present time, in general" , "The present time or age" , "Yesterday's tomorrow" .)