Violent struggle leaving New York behind in the past (3)
I believe the answer is:
ago
'behind in the past' is the definition.
'ago' can be an answer for 'past' (I've seen this before). I'm unsure of the 'behind in the' bit.
'violent struggle leaving new york' is the wordplay.
'violent struggle' becomes 'agony' (I've seen this in another clue).
'leaving' suggests deleting specific letters.
'new york' becomes 'ny'.
'agony' with 'ny' taken out is 'AGO'.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for ago that I've seen before include "(Years) before the present time" , "In past times" , "Earlier, gone by" , "Previously" , "Time past" .)