Nourished without non-starting self-support? (4)
I believe the answer is:
fend
'self-support?' is the definition.
Both the definition and answer are singular nouns.
Perhaps they are linked in a way I don't understand?
'nourished without non-starting' is the wordplay.
'nourished' becomes 'fed' (I've seen this before).
'without' is an insertion indicator ('without' can be similar in meaning to 'outside').
'starting' says to take the initial letters.
The initial letter of 'non' is 'n'.
'fed' going around 'n' is 'FEND'.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for fend that I've seen before include "Ward off from offender" , "Ward (off); manage (for oneself)" , "Manage (usually for oneself)" , "Try to manage without help" .)