Take pains as consequence and regret eating eggs on the counter (9)
I believe the answer is:
endeavour
'the counter' is the definition.
The answer and definition can be both acts as well as being singular nouns.
Perhaps they are linked in a way I don't understand?
'take pains as consequence and regret eating eggs' is the wordplay.
I cannot quite see how this works, but
'take' could be 'r' (abbreviation for 'recipe', Latin for 'take') and 'r' is present in the answer.
'consequence' could be 'end' (I've seen this in another clue) and 'end' is present in the answer.
This explanation may well be incorrect...
'on' acts as a link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for endeavour that I've seen before include "Expenditure of effort" , "First space shuttle to visit the International Space Station" , "Try hard (to achieve)" , "Enterprise; earnest effort" , "Try - Captain Cook's vessel" .)