French article restored, but not preserved (7)
I believe the answer is:
uncured
'not preserved' is the definition.
The answer and definition are different parts of speech. However, past participle verbs and adjectives sometimes define each other.
'french article restored' is the wordplay.
'french article' becomes 'un' (indefinite article in French).
'restored' becomes 'cured' (I've seen this in another clue).
'un'+'cured'='UNCURED'
'but' is the link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for uncured that I've seen before include "Not preserved by salting, drying or smoking" , "Still ill; not smoked, salted or dried" .)