Crossword Genius

Disparage priest in fight after a loss? (8)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

belittle

I'm a little stuck... Click here to teach me more about this clue!

'disparage' is the definition.
(I know that disparage can be written as belittle)

'priest in fight after a loss?' is the wordplay.
I cannot quite see how this works, but
'priest' could be 'eli' (biblical figure) and 'eli' is present in the answer.
This may be the basis of the clue (or it may be nonsense).

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for belittle that I've seen before include "Sell short" , "Imply that something is of small value, diminish in words" , "Imply that person is of small value or unworthy" , "Imply that something is unimportant, mock" , "Denigrate, diminish" .)

I've seen this clue in The Sun.
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