Severely bruised group accepting deficiency; subsequently dismal (5,3,4)
I believe the answer is:
black and blue
'severely bruised' is the definition.
'black-and-blue' can be an answer for 'bruised' (I've seen this in another clue). I am not certain of the 'severely' bit.
'group accepting deficiency subsequently dismal' is the wordplay.
'group' becomes 'band' (band can mean a group of people).
'accepting' indicates putting letters inside (inserted letters are accepted).
'deficiency' becomes 'lack' (synonyms).
'subsequently dismal' becomes 'blue' (I've seen this before. I am not sure about the 'subsequently' bit.).
'band' placed around 'lack' is 'blackand'.
'blackand'+'blue'='BLACK-AND-BLUE'
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for black and blue that I've seen before include "Badly bruised" , "Twice shaded" , "looking thoroughly beaten?" , "apparently beaten" , "Discoloured, as from a bruise" .)