Overdue Conservative afraid (5)
I believe the answer is:
cowed
'afraid' is the definition.
(similar in meaning)
'overdue conservative' is the wordplay.
I cannot quite understand how this works, but
'overdue' could be 'owed' (similar in meaning) and 'owed' is found in the answer.
'conservative' could be 'c' (UK political abbreviation) and 'c' is located in the answer.
No letters remain.
This may be the basis of the clue (or it may be nonsense).
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for cowed that I've seen before include "Subdued in bovine way?" , "Subdued, kept under" , "Overawed" , "Intimidated, subdued" , "Browbeaten" .)