With bows bent, finally ready for battle (3,5)
I believe the answer is:
war chest
'with bows bent' is the definition.
Although both the answer and definition are singular nouns, I can't see how one could define the other.
'finally ready for battle' is the wordplay.
'finally ready' becomes 'chest' (I can't justify this - if you can you should believe this answer much more).
'for' is a charade indicator (letters next to each other) (I've seen this in other clues).
'battle' becomes 'war' (armed conflict).
'chest' put after 'war' is 'WAR-CHEST'.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for war chest that I've seen before include "ready for fighting?" , "funds for election, perhaps" , "hypothecated funds" , "funds for action?" , "Fighting fund" .)