2, one being paid without limits (4)
I believe the answer is:
arne
'2' is the definition.
Both the answer and definition are singular nouns.
Maybe you can see a link between them that I can't see?
'one being paid without limits' is the wordplay.
'one' becomes 'a' (a thing is one thing).
'being' becomes 'rn' (RN is an example).
'paid' becomes 'met' (I've seen this in other clues).
'without limits' indicates the central letters (letters at the edges or 'limits' are removed).
The middle letter of 'met' is 'e'.
'a'+'rn'+'e'='ARNE'
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for arne that I've seen before include "Rule Britannia's composer, d. 1778" , "Rule Britannia composer, d. 1778" , "Thomas --, composer of Rule, Britannia!" , "Rule, Britannia author" .)