Past and present stretcher (8)
I believe the answer is:
extender
'stretcher' is the definition.
Both the definition and answer are singular nouns.
Perhaps you can see a link between them that I don't see?
'past and present' is the wordplay.
'past' becomes 'ex' (similar in meaning).
'and' says to put letters next to each other.
'present' becomes 'tender' (tendering is a kind of presenting).
'ex'+'tender'='EXTENDER'
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for extender that I've seen before include "one to reach out" , "stretcher required?" .)