Beginning to learn novel mathematical premise (5)

I believe the answer is:

lemma

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'mathematical premise' is the definition.
'lemma' can be an answer for 'premise' (thesaurus). I'm not sure about the 'mathematical' bit.

'beginning to learn novel' is the wordplay.
'beginning to' says to take the initial letters.
'novel' becomes 'Emma' (novel by Jane Austen).
The first letter of 'learn' is 'l'.
'l'+'emma'='LEMMA'

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for lemma that I've seen before include "Intermediate proof" , "Subsidiary theorem" , "heading" , "Subject's division" , "Proposition" .)

I've seen this clue in The Times.

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