Shielding the son one thinks the world of from adversities (8)
I believe the answer is:
reverses
'adversities' is the definition.
The definition and answer can be both related to natural events as well as being plural nouns.
Maybe they are linked in a way I don't understand?
I can't explain the remainder of the clue.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for reverses that I've seen before include "Defeats" , "Moves backwards" , "Goes back with reserves" , "Goes backwards" , "Backs up" .)