Ornamented when half of them gave orders (8)
I believe the answer is:
embossed
'ornamented' is the definition.
Both the definition and answer are adjectives. Maybe they are linked in a way I don't understand?
'when half of them gave orders' is the wordplay.
'when' becomes 'e' (I've seen this in other clues).
'half of' suggests halving the letters.
'them' becomes 'em' (abbreviation).
'gave orders' becomes 'bossed' (I've seen this in another clue).
'em' cut in half is 'm'.
'e'+'m'+'bossed'='EMBOSSED'
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for embossed that I've seen before include "Made to protrude" , "Standing out" , "Stamped, raised" , "Raised in relief" , "Embellished with a raised pattern" .)