Fend off spurious self-inductive work of the ancients (9)

I believe the answer is:

leviticus

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'fend' is the definition.
Both the definition and answer are singular nouns.
Maybe they are linked in a way I don't understand?

I can't explain the rest of the clue.

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(Other definitions for leviticus that I've seen before include "Book of the Bible" , "Limit" , "I cut evils (anag) - book of the Old Testament" , "Religious text" , "Third book of the Old Testament - I cut Elvis (anag)" .)

I've seen this clue in the Sydney Morning Herald.

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