Evening mea culpas start to gain acclaim (5)

I believe the answer is:

eclat

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'acclaim' is the definition.
(I know that acclaim can be written as eclat)

I cannot understand how the remainder of the clue works.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for eclat that I've seen before include "brilliant effort" , "Acclaim; showy display" , "Cleat (anag.)" , "Showy effect (Fr.)" , "French social distinction or success" .)

I've seen this clue in the Sydney Morning Herald.

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