Direction from minor thane (5)
I believe the answer is:
north
'direction' is the definition.
(north is a kind of direction)
'from minor thane' is the wordplay.
'from' indicates a hidden word.
'NORTH' is hidden within 'minor thane'.
(Other definitions for north that I've seen before include "Former statesman" , "Direction of Edinburgh from Cardiff" , "who has to follow West's lead?" , "bridge player" , "Former PM" .)