Crossword Genius

Those characters embraced by Jeanne Moreau going all the way back in The Black Cat? (4)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

omen

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'back in the black cat?' is the definition.
Although both the answer and definition are singular nouns, I cannot understand how one could define the other.

'those characters embraced by jeanne moreau going all the way' is the wordplay.
I cannot quite understand how this works, but
'way' could be 'n' (Compass direction - North) and 'n' is located in the answer.
The remaining letters 'ome' is a valid word which might be clued in a way I don't understand.
This explanation may well be incorrect...

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for omen that I've seen before include "Sign of things to come" , "Prophetic significance" , "Portent, prophetic indicator" , "Forecast" , "Event regarded as a prophetic sign of good or evil" .)

I've seen this clue in The Irish Times.
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