Typical cathartic cries when agitated (14)
I believe the answer is:
characteristic
'typical' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)
'cathartic cries when agitated' is the wordplay.
'when agitated' indicates an anagram (I've seen this in other clues).
'cathartic'+'cries'='catharticcries'
'catharticcries' anagrammed gives 'CHARACTERISTIC'.
(Other definitions for characteristic that I've seen before include "Distinctive" , "Trait" , "Feature, quality" , "Typical (of a person or thing)" , "Typical of a particular person" .)