Times paper’s first place an incidental happening (6)
I believe the answer is:
byplay
'an incidental happening' is the definition.
Although both the answer and definition are singular nouns, I can't understand how they can define each other.
'times paper's first place' is the wordplay.
'times' becomes 'by' (both can mean 'multiplied by').
'paper's first' becomes 'p' (1st letter of 'paper').
'place' becomes 'lay' (synonyms).
'by'+'p'+'lay'='BYPLAY'
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for byplay that I've seen before include "Stage business" , "Minor goings-on" , "Secondary action on stage" .)