Tied oddly, the cardinal bound (8)
I believe the answer is:
tethered
'bound' is the definition.
(similar in meaning)
'tied oddly the cardinal' is the wordplay.
'oddly' means one should take alternating letters (letters in the odd-numbered positions are used).
'cardinal' becomes 'red' (cardinal is a shade of red).
The alternating letters of 'tied' are 'te'.
'te'+'the'+'red'='TETHERED'
(Other definitions for tethered that I've seen before include "Fastened with rope or chain, like animal" , "Confined in range by tied rope" , "Not free" , "Tied (animals) up" , "Bound" .)