Serpent cryptic edited and put before the public (9)
I believe the answer is:
presented
'put before the public' is the definition.
I can't tell whether this definition defines the answer.
'serpent cryptic edited' is the wordplay.
'cryptic' is an anagram indicator (a cryptic or obscure order of the letters).
'edited' becomes 'ed' (publishing abbreviation).
'serpent' is an anagram of 'present'.
'present'+'ed'='PRESENTED'
'and' acts as a link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for presented that I've seen before include "Made a gift to" , "Given" , "Put on the stage or introduced" , "Introduced, brought forward" , "delivered pitch?" .)