Last to be first in such a test? (9)
I believe the answer is:
endurance
'a test?' is the definition.
Although both the answer and definition are singular nouns, I don't see how one could define the other.
'last to be first in' is the wordplay.
I cannot quite understand how this works, but
'last' could be 'end' (I've seen this in another clue) and 'end' is located in the answer.
'first' could be 'a' (first letter of the alphabet) and 'a' is found in the answer.
This may be the basis of the clue (or it may be nonsense).
'such' is the link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for endurance that I've seen before include "Stoical attitude" , "Crushed ship" , "Stoical coping with hardship" , "Stoicism" , "Ill-fated vessel" .)