Having a right, we're told, to commendation (7)
I believe the answer is:
acclaim
'commendation' is the definition.
(acclaim is a kind of commendation)
'having a right we're told' is the wordplay.
I cannot really understand how this works, but
'a' is within the answer.
'right' could be 'claim' (claim is a kind of right) and 'claim' is found within the answer.
A single letter 'c' remains which might be clued in a way I don't see.
This explanation may well be incorrect...
'to' acts as a link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for acclaim that I've seen before include "Welcome enthusiastically" , "Plaudits" , "Declare" , "Extol" , "Welcome with shouts of applause" .)