Crossword Genius

Saintly Alan embracing a blockhead! (5)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

alban

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'saintly alan embracing a blockhead' is the definition.
I can't judge whether this defines the answer.

'alan embracing a blockhead' is the wordplay.
'embracing' means one lot of letters goes inside another.
'a blockhead' becomes 'b' (head letter of 'block').
'alan' enclosing 'b' is 'ALBAN'.

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(Other definitions for alban that I've seen before include "First Christian martyr in England" , "First British martyr, supposedly born in Verulamium" , "Hertfordshire saint" , "First English Christian martyr" , "Saint born at Verulamium" .)

I've seen this clue in the Evening Standard.
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