Crossword Genius

Hapless or amusing dimwit (9)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

ignoramus

'dimwit' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)

'hapless or amusing' is the wordplay.
'hapless' indicates anagramming the letters.
'or'+'amusing'='oramusing'
'oramusing' with letters rearranged gives 'IGNORAMUS'.

(Other definitions for ignoramus that I've seen before include "A know-nothing" , "At the present time" , "unwitting person" , "Simpleton" , "Uneducated person" .)

I've seen this clue in The Independent.
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