Writer passed by talking (5)
I believe the answer is:
wilde
'writer' is the definition.
(Oscar Wilde)
'passed by talking' is the wordplay.
'passed by' becomes 'whiled' (whiled away time).
'talking' indicates a 'sounds like' (homophone) clue.
'whiled' is a homophone of 'WILDE'.
(Other definitions for wilde that I've seen before include "Author of The Picture of Dorian Gray" , "Oscar --, writer and wit" , "Oscar, great Irish writer" , "Oscar --, English writer" , "Author of Lady Windermere's Fan" .)