Haughty writer Marcel died, refusing stone (5)
I believe the answer is:
proud
'haughty' is the definition.
(similar in meaning)
'writer marcel died refusing stone' is the wordplay.
'writer marcel' becomes 'proust' (I've seen this in another clue).
'died' becomes 'd' (abbreviation next to the year of someone's death).
'refusing' is a deletion indicator.
'stone' becomes 'st' (abbreviation).
'proust'+'d'='proustd'
'proustd' with 'st' removed is 'PROUD'.
(Other definitions for proud that I've seen before include "Having a high opinion of oneself" , "Boastful" , "Haughty; projecting a little" , "Feeling gratified or arrogant" , "Stuck-up" .)