Keen smallholder originally keeping old ducks (6)
I believe the answer is:
avoids
'ducks' is the definition.
The definition and answer can be both to do with communicating as well as being verbs in their -s form.
Maybe they are linked in a way I don't understand?
'keen smallholder originally keeping old' is the wordplay.
'keen' becomes 'avid' (I've seen this before).
'originally' says to take the initial letters.
'keeping' is an insertion indicator.
'old' becomes 'o' (common abbreviation eg in OE for Old English).
The initial letter of 'smallholder' is 's'.
'avid'+'s'='avids'
'avids' enclosing 'o' is 'AVOIDS'.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for avoids that I've seen before include "Ducks (out of)" , "Shuns, keeps away from" , "Steers clear of, dodges" , "Keeps away or refrains from" , "Stays away from" .)