Happiest sort of deadlines? (8)
I believe the answer is:
epitaphs
'deadlines?' is the definition.
Although both the answer and definition are plural nouns, I can't understand how one could define the other.
'happiest sort' is the wordplay.
'sort' indicates an anagram.
'happiest' with letters rearranged gives 'EPITAPHS'.
'of' is the link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for epitaphs that I've seen before include "Happiest (anag)" , "Inscriptions on tombstones" , "Happiest sort of inscriptions on tombs" , "They're written in memory of people who have died" , "Famous last words" .)