Refuse to observe a request for silence (3)
I believe the answer is:
ash
'refuse' is the definition.
(I've seen this in another clue)
'observe a request for silence' is the wordplay.
I cannot really see how this works, but
'a' is found in the answer.
'silence' could be 'sh' ('sh' is said to tell someone to be silent) and 'sh' is found in the answer.
No letters remain.
This may be the basis of the clue (or it may be nonsense).
'to' is the link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for ash that I've seen before include "Fraxinus" , "It's used for flooring" , "Runic letter; tree" , "Powdery residue from fire or cigarette" , "What's often left after something 1 Ac" .)