Taken by surprise, the old lady retired, exhausted (8)
I believe the answer is:
ambushed
'taken by surprise' is the definition.
Although both the answer and definition are past participle verbs, I don't see how one could define the other.
'old lady retired exhausted' is the wordplay.
'old lady' becomes 'ma' (both can mean mother).
'retired' is a reversal indicator.
'exhausted' becomes 'bushed' (bushed can informally mean exhausted).
'ma' back-to-front is 'am'.
'am'+'bushed'='AMBUSHED'
'the' acts as a link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for ambushed that I've seen before include "Taken by surprise in war" , "Attacked (someone) from concealment" , "surprised?)" , "Lay in wait and waylaid" , "taken, surprisingly" .)