A superior holy person before becoming self-abnegating (7)
I believe the answer is:
austere
'self-abnegating' is the definition.
Both the answer and definition are adjectives. Perhaps there's an association between them I don't understand?
'a superior holy person before' is the wordplay.
'superior' becomes 'U' (U can mean upper-class, as in U and non-U speech).
'holy person' becomes 'st' (short for saint).
'before' becomes 'ere' (poetic term).
'a'+'u'+'st'+'ere'='AUSTERE'
'becoming' acts as a link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for austere that I've seen before include "Severe in manner" , "Strict in appearance" , "Grim - USA tree (anag)" , "Grave, unsmiling" , "severely self-disciplined" .)