Sort of time sure to be honourable (8)
I believe the answer is:
emeritus
'honourable' is the definition.
Both the definition and answer are adjectives. Perhaps you can see an association between them that I don't see?
'sort of time sure' is the wordplay.
'sort of' indicates an anagram.
'time'+'sure'='timesure'
'timesure' anagrammed gives 'EMERITUS'.
'to be' is the link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for emeritus that I've seen before include "Keeping hon. title in retirement" , "Rue items that describe person retired but retaining title" , "Keeping rank, retired" , "Retiring academic" , "Professor honourably retired" .)