Liberate mother and child from one in secret order (9)
I believe the answer is:
freemason
'one in secret order' is the definition.
Although both the answer and definition are singular nouns, I don't understand how one could define the other.
'liberate mother and child' is the wordplay.
'liberate' becomes 'free' (synonyms).
'mother' becomes 'ma' (Ma is another word for mother or mum).
'and' means one lot of letters go next to another.
'child' becomes 'son' (male child).
'free'+'ma'+'son'='FREEMASON'
'from' is the link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for freemason that I've seen before include "One on the square" , "Forenames (anag)" , "secret society member" , "who could be in order" , "Forenames of one of fraternity with secret rituals" .)