Early awareness of strength, receiving letters from Athens (9)
I believe the answer is:
foretaste
'early awareness' is the definition.
The answer and definition can be both related to thinking as well as being singular nouns.
Perhaps there's a link between them I don't understand?
'strength receiving letters from athens' is the wordplay.
'strength' becomes 'forte' (synonyms).
'receiving' indicates putting letters inside.
'letters from athens' becomes 'etas' (I've seen this in another clue).
'forte' placed around 'etas' is 'FORETASTE'.
'of' is the link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for foretaste that I've seen before include "Preview" , "Advance sample" , "Anticipation" , "trailer" , "Sample of something that lies ahead" .)