Miserly fool said to be closely connected (5-4)
I believe the answer is:
tight-knit
'closely connected' is the definition.
The answer and definition are not the same part of speech. However, past participle verbs and adjectives sometimes define each other.
'miserly fool said' is the wordplay.
'miserly' becomes 'tight' (synonyms).
'fool' becomes 'nit' (both can mean a stupid person).
'said' shows a homophone (sound like).
'nit' sounds like 'knit'.
'tight'+'knit'='TIGHT-KNIT'
'to be' acts as a link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for tight-knit that I've seen before include "Closely and firmly integrated" , "Meshed" , "Well organised in concise way - using wool?" , "'intimate'" , "(Of a community) close" .)