Uplifting demeanour in dire situation (4)
I believe the answer is:
doom
'dire situation' is the definition.
Although both the answer and definition are singular nouns, I can't see how they can define each other.
'uplifting demeanour' is the wordplay.
'uplifting' says the letters should be written backwards.
'demeanour' becomes 'mood'.
'mood' reversed gives 'DOOM'.
'in' acts as a link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for doom that I've seen before include "Curse" , "In disaster" , "Inevitable ruin" , "Unavoidable ill-fortune" , "Fate; ruin" .)