Old lady having half-hearted affair (5)
I believe the answer is:
mater
'old lady' is the definition.
The definition and answer can be both people as well as being singular nouns.
Perhaps there's an association between them I don't understand?
'half-hearted affair' is the wordplay.
'half' becomes 'mate' (I have seen 'Better half ' mean 'mate' so perhaps 'half' could also mean 'mate').
'hearted' indicates the central letters.
'affair' becomes 'party' (party is a kind of affair).
The middle letter of 'party' is 'r'.
'mate'+'r'='MATER'
'having' is the link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for mater that I've seen before include "mum's the word" , "One marrying" , "Mother (sl.)" , "Mother (Latin or old slang)" , "See 12" .)