Executes without pardon initially - the dills! (5)
I believe the answer is:
dopes
'dills' is the definition.
Although both the answer and definition are plural nouns, I can't understand how they can define each other.
'executes without pardon initially' is the wordplay.
'executes' becomes 'does' (doing is a kind of executing).
'without' indicates putting letters inside ('without' can be similar in meaning to 'outside').
'initially' suggests taking the first letters.
The initial letter of 'pardon' is 'p'.
'does' placed around 'p' is 'DOPES'.
'the' acts as a link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for dopes that I've seen before include "Nobbles" , "Fools" .)