Sailor worried and died — sank? (6)
I believe the answer is:
abated
'sank?' is the definition.
The answer and definition can be both related to change as well as being past participle verbs.
Perhaps they are linked in a way I don't understand?
'sailor worried and died' is the wordplay.
'sailor' becomes 'ab' (abbreviation for able seaman).
'worried' becomes 'ate' (something worrying may eat someone up).
'and' is a charade indicator (letters next to each other).
'died' becomes 'd' (abbreviation next to the year of someone's death).
'ab'+'ate'+'d'='ABATED'
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for abated that I've seen before include "dropped off" , "Became more moderate" , "Lessened" , "Went down and calmed like stormed" , "Settled" .)