Former student with 54 debts is clueless (9)
I believe the answer is:
oblivious
'clueless' is the definition.
Both the answer and definition are adjectives.
Maybe they are linked in a way I don't understand?
'former student with 54 debts' is the wordplay.
'former student' becomes 'OB' (abbreviation for 'Old Boy').
'with' says to put letters next to each other.
'54' becomes 'liv' (Roman numerals).
'debts' becomes 'IOUs' (promises to pay debts).
'ob'+'liv'+'ious'='OBLIVIOUS'
'is' is the link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for oblivious that I've seen before include "Absent-mindedly unaware" , "Forgetful; unaware" , "Apt to forget" , "totally in the dark?" , "In ignorance" .)