With military detachment, the doctor’s stern (5)
I believe the answer is:
draft
'with military detachment' is the definition.
The answer and definition can be both acts as well as being singular nouns.
Perhaps there's a link between them I don't understand?
'the doctor's stern' is the wordplay.
'the doctor' becomes 'dr' ('Dr' can be a synonym of 'doctor').
'stern' becomes 'aft' (similar in meaning).
'dr'+'aft'='DRAFT'
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for draft that I've seen before include "Preliminary outline" , "Written plan" , "plan outlined" , "sketch, perhaps" , "Rough drawing" .)