The clever fellow panted excitedly (6)
I believe the answer is:
pedant
'the clever fellow' is the definition.
The definition and answer can be both people as well as being singular nouns.
Perhaps they are linked in a way I don't understand?
'panted excitedly' is the wordplay.
'excitedly' is an anagram indicator.
'panted' is an anagram of 'PEDANT'.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for pedant that I've seen before include "One pays undue attention to the petty details" , "Fussy schoolmaster, academic" , "Panted over unimaginative scholar." , "quibbler" , "Academic stickler" .)