Saw a setter’s method initially adopting suggestion of alternative (8)
I believe the answer is:
aphorism
'saw' is the definition.
(saw can mean a proverb or saying)
'a setter's method initially adopting suggestion of alternative' is the wordplay.
I cannot really understand how this works, but
'a' is within the answer.
'setter's' could be 'is' (the person who set this crossword) and 'is' is located in the answer.
'of' could be 'o' and 'o' is located in the answer.
This explanation may well be incorrect...
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for aphorism that I've seen before include "Adage" , "Pithy observation which contains a general truth" , "Maxim, short wise saying" , "Saw" , "Brief pithy saying" .)