Witnessed retreat, with soldiers returning (6)
I believe the answer is:
signed
'witnessed' is the definition.
Both the answer and definition are adjectives. Maybe you can see a link between them that I don't see?
'retreat with soldiers returning' is the wordplay.
'retreat' becomes 'den'.
'with' means one lot of letters go next to another.
'soldiers' becomes 'gis' (I've seen this in other clues**).
'returning' is a reversal indicator.
'den'+'gis'='dengis'
'dengis' back-to-front is 'SIGNED'.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for signed that I've seen before include "Inscribed - endorsed" , "Gestured with meaning" , "Autographed" , "Wrote one's name" , "Authorised (in writing)" .)