With a light “Nonsense!” lifted the child (5)
I believe the answer is:
torch
'with a light' is the definition.
Although both the answer and definition are singular nouns, I can't see how one could define the other.
'nonsense lifted the child' is the wordplay.
'nonsense' becomes 'rot' (I've seen this before).
'lifted' says the letters should be written backwards (going up in down clue).
'the child' becomes 'ch'.
'rot' written backwards gives 'tor'.
'tor'+'ch'='TORCH'
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for torch that I've seen before include "Light carried in the hand" , "Small hand-held battery lamp" , "source of illumination" , "Set fire to (something)" , "Small portable battery-powered electric lamp" .)