Crossword Genius

Vital work by a new foreigner (7)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

latvian

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'new foreigner' is the definition.
Although both the answer and definition are singular nouns, I don't see how they can define each other.

'vital work by a' is the wordplay.
'work' is an anagram indicator.
'by' is a charade indicator (letters next to each other).
'a' becomes 'an'.
'vital' with letters rearranged gives 'latvi'.
'latvi'+'an'='LATVIAN'

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for latvian that I've seen before include "Riga resident" , "Eg, native of Riga" , "European national" , "One from Riga" , "Baltic national" .)

I've seen this clue in The Mirror.
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