Emergency worker to give answer with hesitation (9)
I believe the answer is:
responder
'emergency worker' is the definition.
The answer and definition can be both people as well as being singular nouns.
Perhaps they are linked in a way I don't understand?
'answer with hesitation' is the wordplay.
'answer' becomes 'respond' (synonyms).
'with hesitation' becomes 'er' (I can't explain this - if you can you should give a lot more credence to this answer).
'respond'+'er'='RESPONDER'
'to give' acts as a link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for responder that I've seen before include "one giving a reaction" , "Reactor" , "One replying or reacting" , "one should give a reply" , "provides one with the answer" .)