Consuming interest in France before 1940? (13)
I believe the answer is:
preoccupation
'consuming interest' is the definition.
The answer and definition can be both related to thinking as well as being singular nouns.
Maybe there's an association between them I don't understand?
'france before 1940?' is the wordplay.
I cannot really understand how this works, but
'before' could be 'pre' and 'pre' is present in the answer.
The remaining letters 'occupation' is a valid word which might be clued in a way I don't see.
This explanation may well be incorrect...
'in' is the link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for preoccupation that I've seen before include "A matter that monopolises a person's thoughts" , "state of France in 1939?" , "Absorption, engrossment" , "Something totally dominating the mind" , "Obsession" .)