Series about a victory is an ordeal (7)
I believe the answer is:
travail
'an ordeal' is the definition.
Although both the answer and definition are singular nouns, I cannot understand how one could define the other.
'series about a victory' is the wordplay.
'series' becomes 'trail' (I can't explain this - if you can you should believe this answer much more).
'about' indicates putting letters inside.
'victory' becomes 'v'.
'a'+'v'='av'
'trail' going around 'av' is 'TRAVAIL'.
'is' is the link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for travail that I've seen before include "Hard work" , "Exertion, elbow grease" , "Use of physical or mental energy; excessive labour..." , "Toil - anguish" , "Painful labour" .)