Nominal translator of some of the classics (5)

I believe the answer is:

silas

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'classics' is the definition.
Both the definition and answer are singular nouns.
Perhaps there's a link between them I don't understand?

I can't explain the remainder of the clue.

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(Other definitions for silas that I've seen before include "-- Wegg (Dickens, OMF)" , "-- Marner (George Eliot novel)" , "' - - Marner' (lit.)" , "Missionary" , "Uncle - (Le Fanu); - Marner (Eliot)" .)

I've seen this clue in the Evening Standard.

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