Record is kept by spurned former adviser initially (4)
I believe the answer is:
disc
'record' is the definition.
(eg a CD, compact disc)
'is kept by spurned former adviser initially' is the wordplay.
I cannot quite see how this works, but
'is' is present in the answer.
The remaining letters 'dc' is a valid word which might be clued in a way I don't see.
This explanation may well be incorrect...
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for disc that I've seen before include "In Olympic event" , "Flat thin circular body" , "Part of flower" , "One of 33, 45 or 78?" , "Circle" .)