Crossword Genius

Abandoned British quitting obligation to protect memorial (8)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

derelict

I'm a little stuck... Click here to teach me more about this clue!

'abandoned british' is the definition.
'derelict' can be an answer for 'abandoned' (I've seen this before). I'm not sure about the 'british' bit.

'quitting obligation to protect memorial' is the wordplay.
'quitting obligation' becomes 'det' (I can't explain this - if you can you should believe this answer much more).
'to protect' means one lot of letters goes inside another.
'memorial' becomes 'relic' (object kept to remember a holy person).
'det' placed around 'relic' is 'DERELICT'.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for derelict that I've seen before include "Deserted - vagrant" , "Deserted and dilapidated" , "An abandoned ship" , "Dilapidated and neglected" , "Disused, in poor condition" .)

I've seen this clue in The Telegraph.
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