Left in sadness, Scrooge-like (7)
I believe the answer is:
miserly
'left in sadness' is the definition.
Both the answer and definition are adjectives. Perhaps there's an association between them I don't understand?
'scrooge-like' is the wordplay.
'scrooge' becomes 'miser' (Dickens' Ebenezer Scrooge is a miser).
'like' becomes 'ly' (similar in meaning).
'miser'+'ly'='MISERLY'
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for miserly that I've seen before include "Mean, tight" , "Near" , "Like Scrooge" , "Paltry" , "Niggardly" .)