Crossword Genius

Mass said first for Puritan (8)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

moralist

'puritan' is the definition.
(both can mean a sanctimonious person)

'mass said first' is the wordplay.
'mass' becomes 'm' (symbol used in Physics e.g. f=ma).
'said' becomes 'oral' (both can mean spoken).
'first' becomes 'ist' (ist resembles 1st).
'm'+'oral'+'ist'='MORALIST'

'for' acts as a link.

(Other definitions for moralist that I've seen before include "preacher" , "Principled type" , "principled person" , "Person of principle" , "Ail storm (anag)" .)

I've seen this clue in The Telegraph.
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