English bishops fade away (3)
I believe the answer is:
ebb
'fade away' is the definition.
(I've seen this in another clue)
'english bishops' is the wordplay.
'english' becomes 'e' (abbreviation).
'bishops' becomes 'bb' (two abbreviations for bishop).
'e'+'bb'='EBB'
(Other definitions for ebb that I've seen before include "Outward flow of the tide" , "Flow back or recede" , "Drain away; decline" , "Go out or recede like tide" , "Withdraw heartless" .)