Crossword Genius

Unfortunate student in poor shape finishes at last (7)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

hapless

'unfortunate' is the definition.
('hapless' can be similar in meaning to 'unfortunate')

'student in poor shape finishes at last' is the wordplay.
'student' becomes 'l' (as in L-plates for learner drivers).
'in' means one lot of letters goes inside another.
'poor' indicates anagramming the letters.
'at last' says to take the final letters.
The last letter of 'finishes' is 's'.
'shape' is an anagram of 'hapes'.
'l' going inside 'hapes' is 'haples'.
'haples'+'s'='HAPLESS'

(Other definitions for hapless that I've seen before include "Unfortunate, wretched" , "He slaps (anag) - unlucky" , "Piteous" , "Unlucky, unfortunate" , "Ill-fated" .)

I've seen this clue in The Telegraph.
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