Grumpier tone I adopted, yielding to the eldest his right to succeed (13)
I believe the answer is:
primogeniture
'to the eldest his right to succeed' is the definition.
Although both the answer and definition are singular nouns, I can't understand how they can define each other.
'grumpier tone i adopted' is the wordplay.
'grumpier tone i' anagrams to 'PRIMOGENITURE'.
But, I am not clear how this is indicated.
'yielding' acts as a link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for primogeniture that I've seen before include "Firstborn-inherits system" , "Right of inheritance belonging exclusively to the eldest son" , "Eldest-takes-all system" , "State of being the firstborn" , "(Right of) being first-born" .)