General concern initially in various replies (8)
I believe the answer is:
pericles
'general' is the definition.
Both the definition and answer are singular nouns.
Perhaps you can see a link between them that I don't see?
'concern initially in various replies' is the wordplay.
'initially' indicates taking the first letters.
'in' means one lot of letters goes inside another.
'various' indicates anagramming the letters.
The initial letter of 'concern' is 'c'.
'replies' anagrammed gives 'periles'.
'c' going within 'periles' is 'PERICLES'.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for pericles that I've seen before include "Ancient Athenian leader - prince of Tyre" , "Statesman in Athens" , "Shakespeare play '......., Prince of Tyre'" , "Athenian 'golden age' leader" , "Athenian statesman" .)