One of Elements , and not one Through the Looking Glass (4)
I believe the answer is:
iron
'looking glass' is the definition.
The answer and definition can be both man-made objects as well as being singular nouns.
Perhaps they are linked in a way I don't understand?
'one of elements and not one through' is the wordplay.
'one of elements' becomes 'iro' (I can't justify this - if you can you should believe this answer much more).
'and' means one lot of letters go next to another.
'not' is a deletion indicator.
'one' becomes 'i' (Roman numeral).
'through' becomes 'in'.
'in' with 'i' removed is 'n'.
'iro'+'n'='IRON'
'the' is the link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for iron that I've seen before include "Club to smooth the cloth" , "Hard metal" , "A magnet attracts it" , "stern" , "The one who was 'not for turning'" .)