Two Europeans hamper struggling mayfly (8)
I believe the answer is:
ephemera
'mayfly' is the definition.
Although both the answer and definition are singular nouns, I cannot see how they can define each other.
'two europeans hamper struggling' is the wordplay.
'two europeans' means two substitutions for 'european'.
'european' becomes 'E' (abbreviation e.g. EU).
'european' becomes 'E' (abbreviation e.g. EU).
'struggling' is an anagram indicator.
'e'+'hamper'='ehamper'
'ehamper' with letters rearranged gives 'phemera'.
'e'+'phemera'='EPHEMERA'
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for ephemera that I've seen before include "Short-lived phenomena" , "Objects of short-lived usefulness" , "Short-lived things of passing usefulness" , "Temporary matter" , "Mayfly - something short-lived" .)