Under pressure, curtail compensation before conflict starts (6)
I believe the answer is:
prewar
'before conflict starts' is the definition.
I can't tell whether this defines the answer.
'under pressure curtail compensation' is the wordplay.
'under pressure' becomes 'p' (abbreviation. I am not sure about the 'under' bit.).
'curtail' means to remove the last letter (I've seen 'curtailed' mean this).
'compensation' becomes 'reward' (I've seen this before).
'reward' with its final letter removed is 'rewar'.
'p'+'rewar'='PREWAR'
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for prewar that I've seen before include "Before 1939, say" , "Eg, before 1939" , "Edwardian times" .)