Raise spirits back from the dead (5)
I believe the answer is:
elate
'raise spirits' is the definition.
(I've seen this in another clue)
'back from the dead' is the wordplay.
'back from' indicates one should take the final letters (the letter at the back of the word).
'dead' becomes 'late' (similar in meaning).
The final letter of 'the' is 'e'.
'e'+'late'='ELATE'
(Other definitions for elate that I've seen before include "Fill with optimism" , "Make joyful and proud" , "Encourage" , "Fill with joy" , "Overjoy" .)