Means of identifying 1A’s passionless spoilsports (9)
I believe the answer is:
passports
'passionless spoilsports' is the definition.
Although both the answer and definition are plural nouns, I don't see how one could define the other.
'means of identifying 1a's' is the wordplay.
I cannot really understand how this works, but
'of' could be 'o' and 'o' is present in the answer.
'1a's' could be 'as' and 'as' is found within the answer.
This may be the basis of the clue (or it may be nonsense).
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for passports that I've seen before include "Authorisations to travel abroad" , "Documents allowing travel" , "Government documents needed for foreign travel" , "Authorisation to travel" , "Having admission documents" .)