In ancient culture, centaurs made merry (8)
I believe the answer is:
etruscan
'in ancient culture' is the definition.
The definition suggests a singular noun which matches the answer. I also know that both 'ancient' and 'culture' relate to this answer.
'centaurs made merry' is the wordplay.
'made merry' indicates an anagram.
'centaurs' is an anagram of 'ETRUSCAN'.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for etruscan that I've seen before include "Old person" , "Of an ancient people of central Italy" , "Sure can't refer to ancient state in Italy" , "from part of old Italy" , "Ancient Italian language" .)