Hermit showing up before child (7)
I believe the answer is:
eremite
'hermit' is the definition.
(thesaurus)
'before child' is the wordplay.
'before' becomes 'ere' (usually literary).
'child' becomes 'mite' (I've seen this in other clues).
'ere'+'mite'='EREMITE'
'showing up' acts as a link.
This may not be correct. Some or all of it may be part of another bit of the clue.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for eremite that I've seen before include "ascetic" , "Religious type" , "Religious person" , "Christian living in severe circumstances" , "Solitary" .)