Earlier census, regularly referred to by high-ranking woman (8)

I believe the answer is:

prioress

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'referred to by high-ranking woman' is the definition.
I can't tell whether this defines the answer.

'earlier census regularly' is the wordplay.
'earlier' becomes 'prior' (synonyms).
'regularly' means one should take alternating letters (regularly take one letter, leave next etc.).
The alternating letters of 'census' are 'ess'.
'prior'+'ess'='PRIORESS'

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(Other definitions for prioress that I've seen before include "A senior member of a female religious house" , "Superior nun" , "Religious leader" .)

I've seen this clue in The Irish Times.

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