English article, genuine and delicate (8)
I believe the answer is:
ethereal
'delicate' is the definition.
(similar in meaning)
'english article genuine' is the wordplay.
'english' becomes 'E' (abbreviation as in OED).
'article' becomes 'the' (the definite article).
'genuine' becomes 'real' (similar in meaning).
'e'+'the'+'real'='ETHEREAL'
'and' is the link.
(Other definitions for ethereal that I've seen before include "Warm approval" , "Insubstantial or not of this world" , "Airy, celestial" , "Exquisite - as light as air" , "'Fairy-like, delicate (8)'" .)