Bit of hope, perhaps, every single American has (5)
I believe the answer is:
gleam
'bit of hope' is the definition.
(I've seen this in another clue)
'every single american has' is the wordplay.
'has' indicates a hidden word.
'GLEAM' can be found hidden inside 'every single american'.
'perhaps' acts as a link.
(Other definitions for gleam that I've seen before include "Brightness" , "Glisten" , "Faint light; (quality) shine (in eyes)" , "Brief show of soft light" , "Moderate glow" .)