Derelict paid cent for nitpicking (8)
I believe the answer is:
pedantic
'nitpicking' is the definition.
Both the answer and definition are adjectives. Perhaps they are linked in a way I don't understand?
'derelict paid cent' is the wordplay.
'derelict' is an anagram indicator (a derelict or broken spelling).
'paid'+'cent'='paidcent'
'paidcent' with letters rearranged gives 'PEDANTIC'.
'for' acts as a link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for pedantic that I've seen before include "Fussy about small details" , "Fussily precise" , "Academic or didactic" , "Insisting on sticking stricktly to the rules" , "quibbling" .)