Apprehension to prosecute former poet after repeated cuts (8)
I believe the answer is:
suspense
'apprehension' is the definition.
(I know that suspense is a type of apprehension)
I don't understand the remainder of the clue.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for suspense that I've seen before include "Tense uncertainty" , "State of uncertainty or excitement" , "feature of exciting fiction?" , "State of anxiety or excitement" , "State of anxious uncertainty while waiting (8)" .)