Institute backtracked without thought and without wanting to cause offence (7)
I believe the answer is:
timidly
'without wanting to cause offence' is the definition.
I can't judge whether this definition defines the answer.
'institute backtracked without thought' is the wordplay.
'institute' becomes 'MIT' (Massachusetts Institute of Technology).
'backtracked' shows that the letters should be reversed in order (I've seen 'backtracking' mean this).
'without thought' becomes 'idly' (I've seen this in another clue).
'mit' written backwards gives 'tim'.
'tim'+'idly'='TIMIDLY'
'and' is the link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for timidly that I've seen before include "without courage" , "In faint-hearted manner" , "'Bashfully, shyly (7)'" , "Without much confidence" , "In shy, nervous manner" .)