Past master? (9)
But I've got no explanation for this one! Could you help me understand?
(Other definitions for historian that I've seen before include "One sort of academic" , "chronicler" , "student of the past" , "Past master" , "Writer about the past" .)
'past master?' is the definition.
I know nothing about this answer so I cannot tell whether it can be defined by this definition.
'past master?' is the wordplay.
'past' becomes 'history' (history is a kind of past).
'master?' becomes 'teacher' (I've seen this before).
'history'+'teacher'='HISTORY TEACHER'
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for archaeologist that I've seen before include "One studying past things" , "Ancient digger" , "Antiquarian" , "One excavating history" , "One studying ancient peoples" .)