Note total return for old city establishment figure (5)
I believe the answer is:
remus
'old city establishment figure' is the definition.
I can't tell whether this definition defines the answer.
'note total return' is the wordplay.
'note' becomes 're' (as in do-re-mi).
'total' becomes 'sum' (synonyms).
'return' shows that the letters should be reversed in order.
'sum' in reverse letter order is 'mus'.
're'+'mus'='REMUS'
'for' acts as a link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for remus that I've seen before include "Famous twin" , "doomed wolf-suckling" , "Brother to fifty two across" , "Brother of 15" , "Legendary founder of Rome" .)