What you might call an expensive woman (4)
I believe the answer is:
dear
'expensive woman' is the definition.
The definition and answer can be both people as well as being singular nouns.
Perhaps they are linked in a way I don't understand?
'what you might call an' is the wordplay.
I cannot quite understand how this works, but
'an' could be 'a' and 'a' is found within the answer.
The remaining letters 'der' is a valid word which might be clued in a way I don't understand.
This may be the basis of the clue (or it may be nonsense).
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for dear that I've seen before include "Treasured" , "Highly priced" , "polite form of address" , "address for partner" , "Needing plenty of bread" .)