Former guards live to pass on adherence to rules (9)
I believe the answer is:
obedience
'adherence to rules' is the definition.
I can't tell whether this definition defines the answer.
'former guards live to pass' is the wordplay.
'former' becomes 'once' (synonyms).
'guards' is an insertion indicator (inserted letters are guarded).
'live' becomes 'be' (synonyms).
'to pass' becomes 'die' (as in passing away).
'be'+'die'='bedie'
'once' placed around 'bedie' is 'OBEDIENCE'.
'on' acts as a link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for obedience that I've seen before include "Compliance with an order or law" , "following instructions" , "Observance of the rules" , "Compliance, submission" , "It is said to be the first duty of a soldier" .)
