One behaving contemptibly towards a daughter (4)
I believe the answer is:
toad
'one behaving' is the definition.
Although both the answer and definition are singular nouns, I can't understand how they can define each other.
'contemptibly towards a daughter' is the wordplay.
'contemptibly' becomes 'toa' (I am not sure about this - if you are sure you should give a lot more credence to this answer).
'towards' says to put letters next to each other (I've seen this in other clues).
'a daughter' becomes 'd' (genealogical abbreviation).
'toa'+'d'='TOAD'
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for toad that I've seen before include "Stout-bodied amphibian" , "Froglike animal or repulsive person" , "Tailless amphibian" , "Wind in Willows motorist" , "Hateful person; animal" .)