Somehow the old were let down (7)
I believe the answer is:
lowered
'let down' is the definition.
(I've seen this in another clue)
'somehow the old were' is the wordplay.
'somehow' indicates an anagram.
'old'+'were'='oldwere'
'oldwere' with letters rearranged gives 'LOWERED'.
(Other definitions for lowered that I've seen before include "looked sullen" , "Moved downwards" , "Threatened" , "Brought down" , "Let down gently" .)