Painting held back by university scholar causes agony (6)
I believe the answer is:
trauma
'agony' is the definition.
The definition and answer can be both states of affairs as well as being singular nouns.
Maybe they are linked in a way I don't understand?
'painting held back by university scholar' is the wordplay.
'painting' becomes 'art' (I've seen this before).
'held back' shows that the letters should be reversed in order.
'by' means one lot of letters go next to another.
'university' becomes 'u'.
'scholar' becomes 'ma'.
'art' backwards is 'tra'.
'tra'+'u'+'ma'='TRAUMA'
'causes' acts as a link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for trauma that I've seen before include "Shock with long-lasting effects" , "Emotional shock producing lasting effect" , "Emotional shock, long-lasting" , "Deeply distressing or disturbing experience" , "Physical injury (medical)" .)