Prepared the way, but father is against newsman (5)
I believe the answer is:
paved
'prepared the way' is the definition.
Although both the answer and definition are past participle verbs, I can't understand how one could define the other.
'father is against newsman' is the wordplay.
'father' becomes 'pa' (pa can mean dad or father).
'is against' becomes 'v' (versus).
'newsman' becomes 'ed' (short for editor).
'pa'+'v'+'ed'='PAVED'
'but' acts as a link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for paved that I've seen before include "Covered with flagstones" , "Covered with slabs" , "Covered with a firm surface" , "Covered with flat stones" , "(Ground) covered with stone or brick" .)