Each French writer holding universal sway (8)

I believe the answer is:

persuade

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'sway' is the definition.
(I know that sway can be written as persuade)

'each french writer holding universal' is the wordplay.
'each' becomes 'per' ('per' can mean for each).
'french writer' becomes 'sade' (Sade is an example. I am not sure about the 'french' bit.).
'holding' means one lot of letters goes inside another.
'universal' becomes 'u'.
'sade' going around 'u' is 'suade'.
'per'+'suade'='PERSUADE'

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for persuade that I've seen before include "Convince by argument" , "Talk round" , "Induce or convince to do something" , "Urge successfully" , "influence" .)

I've seen this clue in The Guardian.

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