Lois embraces Romeo, the beast! (5)

I believe the answer is:

loris

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'beast' is the definition.
Both the answer and definition are singular nouns.
Perhaps you can see a link between them that I can't see?

'lois embraces romeo' is the wordplay.
'embraces' indicates putting letters inside.
'romeo' becomes 'r' (phonetic alphabet: alpha, bravo, charlie etc.).
'lois' placed around 'r' is 'LORIS'.

'the' acts as a link.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for loris that I've seen before include "Small nocturnal primate" , "Short-tailed mammal" , "Nocturnal primate of Southeast Asia (usually slender or slow)" , "Slow-moving nocturnal primate" , "lemur" .)

I've seen this clue in the Evening Standard.

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