Left point moist on the outside (4)
I believe the answer is:
went
'left' is the definition.
(left can mean went away)
'point moist on the outside' is the wordplay.
'point' becomes 'n' (North).
'moist' becomes 'wet' (similar in meaning).
'on the outside' is an insertion indicator.
'n' inserted into 'wet' is 'WENT'.
(Other definitions for went that I've seen before include "Travelled" , "Changed location" , "Proceeded; departed" , "Left; disappeared" , "Departed (not hand)" .)