Shakespearean villain reticent, having shut up (7)
I believe the answer is:
shylock
'shakespearean villain' is the definition.
The definition suggests a singular noun which matches the answer.
'reticent having shut up' is the wordplay.
'reticent' becomes 'shy' (both can mean withdrawn or timid).
'having' says to put letters next to each other.
'shut up' becomes 'lock' (synonyms).
'shy'+'lock'='SHYLOCK'
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for shylock that I've seen before include "Shakespearean moneylender" , "stage role" , "Heartless creditor" , "27's usurer" , "Shakespearean character" .)
