Went to capture ancient city, but beaten to a pulp (6)
I believe the answer is:
pureed
'beaten to a pulp' is the definition.
I can't tell whether this definition defines the answer.
'went to capture ancient city' is the wordplay.
'went' becomes 'peed' (both can mean urinated).
'to capture' indicates putting letters inside.
'ancient city' becomes 'ur' (ancient Sumerian city state).
'peed' placed around 'ur' is 'PUREED'.
'but' acts as a link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for pureed that I've seen before include "Made soft through strainer or by blender" , "Made into pulp, say fruit or veg" , "Made into pulp, fruit or vegetables" , "Pulped like fruit or vegetables" , "In cookery, reduced to a smooth pulp" .)