Crossword Genius

Exclusive European register includes Italian (7)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

elitist

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'exclusive' is the definition.
Although both the answer and definition are singular nouns, I can't understand how one could define the other.

'european register includes italian' is the wordplay.
'european' becomes 'E' (abbreviation e.g. EU).
'register' becomes 'list' (listing is a kind of registering).
'includes' is an insertion indicator.
'italian' becomes 'it' (abbreviation for Italian).
'list' enclosing 'it' is 'litist'.
'e'+'litist'='ELITIST'

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for elitist that I've seen before include "Believing in the right of an exclusive group to lead" , "Favouring high society" , "One who feels superior" , "Narrowly superior" , "for the cream" .)

I've seen this clue in The Guardian.
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