Inmate dug predicament of great size and importance (9)

I believe the answer is:

magnitude

I'm a little stuck... Click here to teach me more about this clue!

'importance' is the definition.
(I know that magnitude is a type of importance)

'inmate dug predicament of great size' is the wordplay.
'inmate dug' anagrams to 'MAGNITUDE'.
But, I am unsure how the anagram is indicated.

'and' is the link.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for magnitude that I've seen before include "Eating mud (anag.)" , "Dimensions" , "Relative importance" , "Largeness or size" , "(A star's) brightness" .)

I've seen this clue in The Irish Times.

Want a hint initially instead of a full solution? Install my app