Rector, I start with hymn, somehow showing verbal skill (8)
I believe the answer is:
rhetoric
'verbal skill' is the definition.
Although both the answer and definition are singular nouns, I don't understand how one could define the other.
'rector i start with hymn somehow' is the wordplay.
'start with' suggests taking the first letters.
'somehow' indicates anagramming the letters.
The initial letter of 'hymn' is 'h'.
'rector'+'i'+'h'='rectorih'
'rectorih' with letters rearranged gives 'RHETORIC'.
'showing' is the link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for rhetoric that I've seen before include "Art of persuasive use of words" , "Torchier kind of colourful language" , "Grandiose (insincere) discourse" , "Torchier kind of colourful speech" , "Art of impressive public speaking" .)