Before the Revolution devours it (3)
I believe the answer is:
ere
'before' is the definition.
(usually literary)
'the revolution devours it' is the wordplay.
'devours it' says the answer is hidden in the clue.
'ERE' can be found hidden inside 'the revolution'.
(Other definitions for ere that I've seen before include "Old word for before" , "One who steals" , "Archaic word for before - a palindrome" , "Before (lit.)" , "Before, poetically" .)