Perhaps the elders may be protected (9)
I believe the answer is:
sheltered
'be protected' is the definition.
(similar in meaning)
'perhaps the elders' is the wordplay.
'perhaps' indicates anagramming the letters.
'the'+'elders'='theelders'
'theelders' with letters rearranged gives 'SHELTERED'.
'may' is the link.
(Other definitions for sheltered that I've seen before include "Protected or shielded" , "Secluded" , "Hidden" , "Covered" , "safe from the elements" .)