Proud leader in the Levant? (8)
I believe the answer is:
embossed
'proud' is the definition.
Both the definition and answer are adjectives. Maybe they are linked in a way I don't understand?
'leader in the levant?' is the wordplay.
I cannot quite see how this works, but
'leader' could be 'boss' (boss is a kind of leader) and 'boss' is located in the answer.
This explanation may well be incorrect...
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for embossed that I've seen before include "Raised in relief" , "Standing out" , "Made to protrude" , "Stamped, raised" , "With a raised design" .)