Lovers of the country (8)
I believe the answer is:
patriots
'lovers of the country' is the definition.
The answer and definition can be both people as well as being plural nouns.
Perhaps you can see an association between them that I can't see?
This is the entire clue.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for patriots that I've seen before include "loyalists" , "They love and defend their country" , "Lovers of their country" , "They act from love of fatherland" , "who may wave the flag?" .)