A clipped English accent (5)
I believe the answer is:
acute
'accent' is the definition.
(acute is a kind of accent)
'a clipped english' is the wordplay.
'clipped' becomes 'cut' (similar in meaning).
'english' becomes 'E' (abbreviation).
'a'+'cut'+'e'='ACUTE'
(Other definitions for acute that I've seen before include "Shrewd; serious" , "Quick-witted" , "Severe; French accent" , "Sharp; severe" , "Extremely sharp or intense" .)