Sanctimonious type in pub a Republican, I understand (8)
I believe the answer is:
pharisee
'sanctimonious type' is the definition.
The definition and answer can be both people as well as being singular nouns.
Perhaps there's an association between them I don't understand?
'pub a republican i understand' is the wordplay.
'pub' becomes 'ph' (abbreviation for Public House).
'republican' becomes 'R' (abbreviation).
'understand' becomes 'see' (synonyms).
'ph'+'a'+'r'+'i'+'see'='PHARISEE'
'in' is the link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for pharisee that I've seen before include "Hare pies (anag.)" , "Strict Jew (hist.); hypocrite" , "Sanctimonious hypocrite" , "Hare pies for the Biblical pedant" , "Self-righteous one in the Bible" .)