With no remedy, has to suffer on island retreat (9)
I believe the answer is:
incurable
'with no remedy has' is the definition.
Although both the answer and definition are singular nouns, I cannot understand how they can define each other.
'suffer on island retreat' is the wordplay.
'suffer' becomes 'incur' (to incur is to suffer or experience).
'on' says to put letters next to each other.
'island' becomes 'elba' (Italian island).
'retreat' shows that the letters should be reversed in order.
'elba' backwards is 'able'.
'incur'+'able'='INCURABLE'
'to' is the link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for incurable that I've seen before include "must be endured" , "Not able to be made well" , "Beyond reach of treatment" , "Incorrigible" .)