Last to be first in such a test? (9)
I believe the answer is:
endurance
'a test?' is the definition.
Although both the answer and definition are singular nouns, I cannot understand how one could define the other.
'last to be first in' is the wordplay.
I cannot quite see how this works, but
'last' could be 'end' (I've seen this in another clue) and 'end' is located in the answer.
'first' could be 'a' (first letter of the alphabet) and 'a' is present in the answer.
This explanation may well be incorrect...
'such' acts as a link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for endurance that I've seen before include "Stoical attitude" , "Crushed ship" , "Stoical coping with hardship" , "Stoicism" , "Ill-fated vessel" .)