Contrite, a scholar, upset, in outhouse (7)
I believe the answer is:
ashamed
'contrite' is the definition.
(thesaurus)
'a scholar upset in outhouse' is the wordplay.
'scholar' becomes 'ma' (**).
'upset' is a reversal indicator.
'in' indicates putting letters inside.
'outhouse' becomes 'shed' (I've seen this before).
'ma' in reverse letter order is 'am'.
'am' inserted within 'shed' is 'shamed'.
'a'+'shamed'='ASHAMED'
(Other definitions for ashamed that I've seen before include "Disconcerted with embarrassment" , "Feeling remorse and guilt" , "Feeling guilt or embarrassment" , "Feeling bad after unworthy action" , "Mortified or consciencestricken" .)