Ancient countryman praying desperately outside hospital (8)

I believe the answer is:

phrygian

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'ancient countryman' is the definition.
Although both the answer and definition are singular nouns, I cannot understand how they can define each other.

'praying desperately outside hospital' is the wordplay.
'desperately' indicates an anagram.
'outside' is an insertion indicator (some letters go outside others).
'hospital' becomes 'H' (abbreviation for hospital).
'praying' is an anagram of 'prygian'.
'prygian' enclosing 'h' is 'PHRYGIAN'.

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I've seen this clue in The Times.

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