The girl for many an academician (5)
I believe the answer is:
clara
'academician' is the definition.
Both the answer and definition are singular nouns.
Maybe they are linked in a way I don't understand?
'the girl for many' is the wordplay.
'the girl' becomes 'lara' ().
'for' is a charade indicator (letters next to each other) (I've seen this in other clues).
'many' becomes 'c' (C is the Roman numeral for l00).
'lara' put after 'c' is 'CLARA'.
'an' is the link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for clara that I've seen before include "-- Bow, silent film actress" , "Woman" , "- Bow, US actress, the 'It Girl'" , "- - Bow, silent film star" , "Schumann" .)