Crossword Genius

Special on uniform of the opponents of Thebes (5)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

seven

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'opponents of thebes' is the definition.
Although both the answer and definition are singular nouns, I can't see how one could define the other.

'special on uniform' is the wordplay.
'special' becomes 'S' (common abbreviation as in Special Air Service).
'on' is a charade indicator (letters next to each other) (in a down clue, letters appear on others).
'uniform' becomes 'even' (uniform can mean even or level).
's'+'even'='SEVEN'

'of the' is the link.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for seven that I've seen before include "Number of Wonders of the World" , "Number of colours of the rainbow" , "Number of seas sailed?" , "Number of sins, seas or dwarves" , "Film" .)

I've seen this clue in the Sydney Morning Herald.
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