Power with mate upset devoted follower (6)
I believe the answer is:
lapdog
'power' is the definition.
Although both the answer and definition are singular nouns, I don't understand how one could define the other.
'with mate upset devoted follower' is the wordplay.
'with' says to put letters next to each other.
'mate' becomes 'pal' (I've seen this before).
'upset' says the letters should be written in reverse.
'devoted follower' becomes 'dog' (I can't explain this - if you can you should believe this answer much more).
'pal' written backwards gives 'lap'.
'lap' next to 'dog' is 'LAPDOG'.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for lapdog that I've seen before include "Much petted pet" , "Infatuated person - small docile pet" , "Devoted attendant" , "Pampered pet - sycophantic sidekick" , "devoted supporter" .)