Old shepherd who died young (4)

I believe the answer is:

abel

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'old shepherd who died young' is the definition.
The definition suggests a singular noun which matches the answer.

This is all the clue.

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(Other definitions for abel that I've seen before include "Cain slew him" , "Victim of 11" , "Son of Adam and Eve" , "Adamson" , "The first recorded murder victim" .)

I've seen this clue in the Evening Standard.

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