Italian physician returned home — a very small delay (7)
I believe the answer is:
galvani
'italian physician' is the definition.
The definition suggests a singular noun which matches the answer.
'returned home a very small delay' is the wordplay.
'returned' says the letters should be written backwards.
'home' becomes 'in' ('he's home' can mean 'he's in').
'very small' becomes 'v' (abbreviated or small form of 'very').
'delay' becomes 'lag' (lag is a kind of delay).
'in'+'a'+'v'+'lag'='inavlag'
'inavlag' written backwards gives 'GALVANI'.
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I've seen this clue in The Times.
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