Backward maybe, but she's the woman for many a man (5)
I believe the answer is:
madam
'backward maybe but she's' is the definition.
I can't tell whether this definition defines the answer.
'woman for many a man' is the wordplay.
'woman' becomes 'Ada' (woman's name).
'for' says to put letters next to each other (I've seen this in other clues).
'many' becomes 'M' (Roman numeral for a thousand).
'a man' becomes 'm' (M is an abbreviation for male or masculine).
'ada' after 'm' is 'mada'.
'mada'+'m'='MADAM'
'the' is the link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for madam that I've seen before include "Courteous form of address to a woman" , "precocious schoolgirl?" , "Woman with status - girl with bad manners" , "Woman of standing" , "Titled lady" .)