Apologetic but right to stop idiot wearing item stolen by student? (8)
I believe the answer is:
contrite
'apologetic' is the definition.
(similar in meaning)
'right to stop idiot wearing item stolen by student?' is the wordplay.
I cannot quite understand how this works, but
'right' could be 'r' (common abbreviation) and 'r' is present in the answer.
'idiot' could be 'tit' and 'tit' is present in the leftover letters.
The remaining letters 'cone' is a valid word which might be clued in a way I don't see.
This explanation may well be incorrect...
'but' is the link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for contrite that I've seen before include "Penitent, feeling guilty" , "Wholly penitent" , "in a sorry state indeed" , "Full of remorse" , "Repentant, remorseful" .)