What does the cryptic crossword clue "Gay bishop emerging as sylphlike (5)" mean?

The definition is "sylphlike". The wordplay uses a charade (building blocks). LITHE (deletion) = LITHE; definition: "sylphlike" The answer is LITHE.

Gay bishop emerging as sylphlike (5)

Guardian Cryptic #29537 | 21 Across | 2024-11-11 flower