Distinctive character in Macbeth? Osric? (5)
I believe the answer is:
ethos
'distinctive character' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)
'in macbeth? osric?' is the wordplay.
'in' says the answer is hidden in the clue.
'ETHOS' is hidden in the letters of 'macbeth osric'.
(Other definitions for ethos that I've seen before include "Characteristic spirit, of a culture say" , "Group's distinctive character" , "Distinctive group spirit" , "Spirit (of, eg, an age)" , "Typical culture or attitudes" .)