Acquitted regularly, because they're so endearing (4)

I believe the answer is:

cute

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'endearing' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)

'acquitted regularly' is the wordplay.
'regularly' means one should take alternating letters (regularly take one letter, leave next etc.).
The alternating letters of 'acquitted' are 'CUTE'.

'because they're so' acts as a link.
This may not be correct. Some or all of it may belong to another bit of the clue.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for cute that I've seen before include "Sweet, attractive" , "Clever - attractive" , "Fly" , "Quaintly attractive" , "Quaintly pleasing" .)

I've seen this clue in The Irish Times.

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