Crossword Genius

Master of Arts before the revolution (4)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

tsar

I'm a little stuck... Click here to teach me more about this clue!

'master' is the definition.
The answer and definition can be both people as well as being singular nouns.
Perhaps they are linked in a way I don't understand?

'arts before the revolution' is the wordplay.
'arts' becomes 'ras' (I can't explain this - if you can you should believe this answer much more).
'before' is a charade indicator (letters next to each other).
'the' becomes 't' (the is pronounced as a 't' sound in some dialects).
'revolution' says the letters should be written in reverse.
'ras'+'t'='rast'
'rast' written backwards gives 'TSAR'.

'of' is the link.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for tsar that I've seen before include "Monarch of old Russia" , "Rats to the Russian emperor" , "Old Russian 22" , "Once-powerful Russian" , "Autocrat" .)

I've seen this clue in The Globe and Mail.
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