The man scoffed after model's delay (8)
I believe the answer is:
hesitate
'delay' is the definition.
(I know that hesitate is a type of delay)
'the man scoffed after model's' is the wordplay.
'the man' becomes 'he' (he refers to a man).
'scoffed' becomes 'ate' ('to scoff' is to eat).
'after' says to put letters next to each other.
'model' becomes 'sit' (e.g. for a painting).
'ate' after 'sit' is 'sitate'.
'he'+'sitate'='HESITATE'
(Other definitions for hesitate that I've seen before include "Dither, waver" , "Vacillate" , "Show reluctance" , "'Pause, dither (8)'" , "Hold back in doubt" .)