Crossword Genius

Principal opponent many cheer wildly (9)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

archenemy

I'm a little stuck... Click here to teach me more about this clue!

'principal opponent' is the definition.
'archenemy' can be an answer for 'opponent' (I have seen 'Chief opponent ' mean 'archenemy' so perhaps 'opponent' could also mean 'archenemy'). I am not certain of the 'principal' bit.

'many cheer wildly' is the wordplay.
'wildly' is an anagram indicator.
'many'+'cheer'='manycheer'
'manycheer' is an anagram of 'ARCHENEMY'.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for archenemy that I've seen before include "Main adversary" , "Cheery man can be greatest foe" , "Chief foe" , "most dangerous opponent" , "As Holmes regarded Moriarty" .)

I've seen this clue in The Globe and Mail.
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