Sickly newborn, gutted by famine (6)
I believe the answer is:
renown
'famine' is the definition.
The definition and answer can be both states of affairs as well as being singular nouns.
Perhaps they are linked in a way I don't understand?
'sickly newborn gutted' is the wordplay.
'sickly' indicates anagramming the letters (I've seen this in other clues).
'gutted' means to remove the middle letters (to gut something is to remove its insides).
'newborn' with its middle removed is 'neworn'.
'neworn' is an anagram of 'RENOWN'.
'by' is the link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for renown that I've seen before include "Plane's maximum width" , "Fame and eminence" , "Fame and public acclamation" , "Fame, respect" , "High reputation, fame" .)