The maid's less than mannerly (4)
I believe the answer is:
anne
'the maid's less' is the definition.
The definition suggests a singular noun which matches the answer.
'than mannerly' is the wordplay.
'ANNE' is hidden within the letters.
But, I'm not sure how the hidden word is indicated.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for anne that I've seen before include "Name of queen or princess" , "First name of two of Henry VIII's wives" , "British monarch, d. 1714" , "Name of dead queen!" , "One of the Bronte' tens" .)