So, fierce type's in retreat (4)
I believe the answer is:
ergo
'so' is the definition.
(synonyms)
I cannot understand how the rest of the clue works.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for ergo that I've seen before include "for this reason" , "Hence" , "'Cogito, ---- sum'" , "Therefore - what a goer" , "as a consequence" .)