Eminence retreating into Sicilian territory (4)
I believe the answer is:
etna
'eminence' is the definition.
Although both the answer and definition are singular nouns, I can't understand how they can define each other.
'retreating into sicilian territory' is the wordplay.
'retreating' says the letters should be written backwards.
'into' indicates the answer is hidden within the clue.
'ante' can be found hidden inside 'sicilian territory'.
'ante' in reverse letter order is 'ETNA'.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for etna that I've seen before include "Volcano; reverse of stake" , "hotly-tipped runner" , "Italian volcano" , "Sicilian landmark" , "Sicily's 15" .)