Crossword Genius

Old religious type takes crucial lead from nature (6)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

essene

'old religious type' is the definition.
(the Essenes were an ascetic Jewish sect)

I cannot understand how the rest of the clue works.

(Other definitions for essene that I've seen before include "Jewish frater" , "Old Jewish sectarian" , "Ascetic type" , "Member of Dead Sea Scrolls sect" , "Zealot" .)

I've seen this clue in The Guardian.
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