Exes settled scores and saved face (7)
I believe the answer is:
crosses
'exes' is the definition.
Although both the answer and definition are plural nouns, I can't see how one could define the other.
'settled scores and saved face' is the wordplay.
'settled' is an anagram indicator.
'and' is a charade indicator (letters next to each other).
'face' says to take the initial letters.
The first letter of 'saved' is 's'.
'scores' anagrammed gives 'crosse'.
'crosse'+'s'='CROSSES'
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for crosses that I've seen before include "Goes over" , "Traverses" , "religious symbols" .)