Erudite uncle a little the worse for wear (12)

I believe the answer is:

intellectual

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'erudite' is the definition.
Both the definition and answer are adjectives. Maybe they are linked in a way I don't understand?

'uncle a little the worse for wear' is the wordplay.
'the worse for wear' is an anagram indicator.
'uncle'+'a'+'little'='unclealittle'
'unclealittle' anagrammed gives 'INTELLECTUAL'.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for intellectual that I've seen before include "Related to rational thought processes" , "Brainy person" , "Relating to the rational mind" , "Person with a highly-developed mind" , "Academic" .)

I've seen this clue in The Times.

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