Lofty idealist's ultimate motive for betrayal (4,7)
I believe the answer is:
high treason
'betrayal' is the definition.
The answer and definition can be both acts as well as being singular nouns.
Perhaps there's a link between them I don't understand?
'lofty idealist's ultimate motive' is the wordplay.
'lofty' becomes 'high' (similar in meaning).
'ultimate' indicates one should take the final letters.
'motive' becomes 'reason' (reason is a kind of motive).
The last letter of 'idealist' is 't'.
'high'+'t'+'reason'='HIGH TREASON'
'for' acts as a link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for high treason that I've seen before include "Betrayal of one's country" , "crime against the state?" , "Capital offence" .)