Very short and severe cut for priest (8)
I believe the answer is:
minister
'priest' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)
'very short and severe cut' is the wordplay.
'very short' becomes 'mini' (similar in meaning. I am not sure about the 'very' bit.).
'and' says to put letters next to each other.
'severe' becomes 'stern' (I've seen this in another clue).
'cut' means to remove the last letter.
'stern' with its last letter taken away is 'ster'.
'mini'+'ster'='MINISTER'
'for' acts as a link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for minister that I've seen before include "Parson" , "parliamentarian" , "Servant of state or church" , "Merit sin (anag.)" , "Holder of office in government or church" .)