Interpret excuse for delay when one is lost? (9)
I believe the answer is:
translate
'interpret' is the definition.
('translate' can be a synonym of 'interpret')
'excuse for delay when one is lost?' is the wordplay.
I cannot really understand how this works, but
'when' could be 'e' (I've seen this in other clues) and 'e' is found within the answer.
'one' could be 'an' (I've seen this in other clues) and 'an' is present in the answer.
This may be the basis of clue (or it may be nonsense).
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for translate that I've seen before include "Change into another language" , "Ten altars (anag.)" , "Put into another language" , "Convert" , "Put in other words" .)