Pseudoscientist saving wife from crazed Salem witch (9)
I believe the answer is:
alchemist
'witch' is the definition.
The definition and answer can be both people as well as being singular nouns.
Perhaps you can see a link between them that I can't see?
I can't explain the rest of the clue.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for alchemist that I've seen before include "magician" , "Seeker after gold" , "he sought a panacea" , "St Michael in role of one turning base metal into gold" , "... seeker after stone" .)