Stars, not quite ten, referring to pride maybe? (7)

I believe the answer is:

leonine

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'quite ten referring to pride maybe?' is the definition.
I can't tell whether this defines the answer.

'stars not' is the wordplay.
'stars' becomes 'Leo' (constellation).
'not' becomes 'nine' (I can't explain this - if you can you should believe this answer much more).
'leo'+'nine'='LEONINE'

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for leonine that I've seen before include "Like the king of the forest" , "Lion-like" , "Beastly" , "Relating to a carnivore or to certain popes" , "Like the king of the beasts" .)

I've seen this clue in The Times.

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