Figure to hearten the potentate (3)
I believe the answer is:
ten
'figure' is the definition.
(ten is a number or figure)
'hearten the potentate' is the wordplay.
'TEN' is hidden in amongst the letters.
However, I'm uncertain how this is indicated.
'to' is the link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for ten that I've seen before include "Roman numeral X" , "Dudley Moore/Bo Derek film" , "Cardinal number" , "Very young" , "X-WORD" .)