French scientist is Spooner’s apprentice, some say (5)

I believe the answer is:

curie

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'french scientist' is the definition.
(scientist Marie Curie)

I cannot understand how the rest of the clue works.

(Other definitions for curie that I've seen before include "measure of radioactivity" , "Pioneer in radioactivity" , "One of two Nobel prizewinners" , "Marie -, Fr. physicist" , "Marie ---, found radium" .)

I've seen this clue in The Guardian.

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