Crossword Genius

Priest very briefly appearing in garland (4)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

levi

'priest' is the definition.
(biblical figure)

'very briefly appearing in garland' is the wordplay.
'very briefly' becomes 'v' (abbreviation; 'briefly' asks for a short form).
'appearing in' is an insertion indicator.
'garland' becomes 'lei' (synonyms).
'v' placed within 'lei' is 'LEVI'.

(Other definitions for levi that I've seen before include "Tribe of Israel" , "Hebrew patriarch - Italian writer" , "Primo -, It. novelist" , "Hebrew patriarch, son of Jacob" , "Tribe - name for Strauss" .)

I've seen this clue in The Telegraph.
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