Tidied up after newspaper head has dined with editor (8)
I believe the answer is:
neatened
'tidied up' is the definition.
'neatened' can be an answer for 'tidied' ('neaten' can be a synonym of 'tidy'). I am not certain of the 'up' bit.
'newspaper head has dined with editor' is the wordplay.
'head' says to take the initial letters.
'has' says to put letters next to each other.
'dined' becomes 'eaten' (I've seen this in another clue).
'with' says to put letters next to each other.
'editor' becomes 'ed'.
The first letter of 'newspaper' is 'n'.
'n'+'eaten'+'ed'='NEATENED'
'after' acts as a link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for neatened that I've seen before include "put straight" , "Put to rights" , "Made tidy" , "Put in order" , "Straightened or tidied" .)