Crossword Genius

Character of an admirer embracing a soldier (5)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

fagin

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'character' is the definition.
Both the definition and answer are singular nouns.
Maybe you can see a link between them that I can't see?

'an admirer embracing a soldier' is the wordplay.
'an admirer' becomes 'fan' (fan is a kind of admirer).
'embracing' means one lot of letters goes inside another.
'a soldier' becomes 'gi' (government issue or general issue).
'fan' placed around 'gi' is 'FAGIN'.

'of' is the link.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for fagin that I've seen before include "Oliver Twist villain" , "Dickensian villain" , "he hanged" , "Dickens' thief/receiver" , "Gang leader (Oliver Twist)" .)

I've seen this clue in the Evening Standard.
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