Particular spies in time falling short (7)
I believe the answer is:
special
'particular spies in time falling short' is the definition.
I can't tell whether this definition defines the answer.
'particular spies in time falling short' is the wordplay.
'particular spies' becomes 'cia' (Central Intelligence Agency. I am not sure about the 'particular' bit.).
'in' indicates putting letters inside.
'time' becomes 'spell' (both can mean a short period of time).
'falling short' means to remove the last letter.
'spell' with its final letter removed is 'spel'.
'cia' put within 'spel' is 'SPECIAL'.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for special that I've seen before include "Particularly favoured" , "Dish not on main menu" , "Particular, peculiar" , "Quite out of the ordinary" , "Unusual, superior" .)