Tear in manuscript (3)
I believe the answer is:
rip
'tear' is the definition.
(I know that rip is a more specific form of the action tear)
'in manuscript' is the wordplay.
'in' indicates a hidden word.
'RIP' is hidden in the letters of 'manuscript'.
(Other definitions for rip that I've seen before include "Tear (e.g. cloth)" , "Severely criticise" , "The familiar Mr Van Winkle" , "inscription on tomb" , "Slash" .)