What the fiddler did even before being applauded! (5)
I believe the answer is:
bowed
'applauded' is the definition.
The definition and answer can be both to do with communicating as well as being past participle verbs.
Perhaps there's an association between them I don't understand?
I cannot understand how the remainder of the clue works.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for bowed that I've seen before include "Played as, eg, a violin" , "violin played thus?" , "Played like a cello" , "Acknowledged applause" , "Was on the fiddle" .)