Provided inverted crannies designed for gnomes? (10)
I believe the answer is:
financiers
'gnomes?' is the definition.
The definition and answer can be both people as well as being plural nouns.
Maybe you can see a link between them that I don't see?
'provided inverted crannies designed' is the wordplay.
'provided' becomes 'if' (eg 'provided it's sunny' means 'if it's sunny').
'inverted' shows that the letters should be reversed in order.
'designed' indicates an anagram (designed with the letters).
'if' reversed gives 'fi'.
'crannies' anagrammed gives 'nanciers'.
'fi'+'nanciers'='FINANCIERS'
'for' is the link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Another definition for financiers that I've seen is " workers in the City?".)