Famous scientist adding weight to novel (6)
I believe the answer is:
newton
'famous scientist' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)
'weight to novel' is the wordplay.
'weight' becomes 'ton' (unit of weight).
'to' is a charade indicator (letters next to each other) (I've seen this in other clues).
'novel' becomes 'new' (novel means new or fresh).
'ton' put after 'new' is 'NEWTON'.
'adding' acts as a link.
I am not very happy about this link. It may be part of another bit of the clue.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for newton that I've seen before include "Scientist formulating laws of motion" , "Famous mathematician" , "Sir Isaac --; -- Abbot" , "Sir Isaac . . . . . ., great English mathematician" , "Isaac . . . . . ., great English physicist who discovered gravity" .)