Leader that was Zulu embraced by elevated Archdeacon Basil? (8)
I believe the answer is:
brezhnev
'leader that' is the definition.
The definition suggests a singular noun which matches the answer.
'zulu embraced by elevated archdeacon basil?' is the wordplay.
'zulu' becomes 'Z' (phonetic alphabet: alpha, bravo, charlie etc.).
'embraced by' is an insertion indicator.
'elevated' says the letters should be written in reverse (in a down clue, letters go up).
'archdeacon' becomes 'ven' (abbreviation for The Venerable).
'basil?' becomes 'herb' (basil is an example).
'ven'+'herb'='venherb'
'venherb' backwards is 'brehnev'.
'z' inserted within 'brehnev' is 'BREZHNEV'.
'was' is the link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for brezhnev that I've seen before include "Former president of the Soviet Union" , "Soviet leader 1964-82" , "Leonid ---, succeeded Khrushchev" , "President of the USSR, 1977-82" , "Soviet Union president, d. 1982" .)