Water supply exhausted but not squandered (4-5)
I believe the answer is:
well-spent
'not squandered' is the definition.
The answer and definition are different parts of speech. However, past participle verbs and adjectives occasionally define each other.
'water supply exhausted' is the wordplay.
'water supply' becomes 'well' (a well is a source of water).
'exhausted' becomes 'spent' (similar in meaning).
'well'+'spent'='WELL-SPENT'
'but' is the link.
Can you help me to learn more?
I've seen this clue in The Telegraph, The Globe and Mail and The Guardian.
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