Case after case of Soave having a soothing effect (8)
I believe the answer is:
sedative
'a soothing effect' is the definition.
Although both the answer and definition are singular nouns, I don't understand how one could define the other.
'case after case of soave' is the wordplay.
'case' becomes 'dative' (the dative case in grammar).
'after' means one lot of letters go next to another.
'case of' says to hollow out the word (remove centre letters) (outsides of).
'soave' with its centre taken out is 'se'.
'dative' put after 'se' is 'SEDATIVE'.
'having' acts as a link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for sedative that I've seen before include "Dates I've changed for a tranquiliser" , "quieter" , "having soothing effect" , "Drug to make one sleep" , "Calming drug" .)