Wit in funny replies penned by discontented Bennett (9)
'wit' is the definition.
(bel esprit can mean a witty person)
'funny replies penned by discontented bennett' is the wordplay.
'funny' is an anagram indicator.
'penned by' means one lot of letters goes inside another.
'discontented' suggests removing the centre (the word's contents are removed).
'bennett' with its middle removed is 'bt'.
'replies' is an anagram of 'elespri'.
'elespri' inserted into 'bt' is 'BEL ESPRIT'.
'in' is the link.
(Another definition for bel esprit that I've seen is " genius".)
'wit' is the definition.
I know nothing about this answer so I can't judge whether it can be defined by this definition.
'funny replies penned by discontented bennett' is the wordplay.
'funny' indicates anagramming the letters.
'penned by' is an insertion indicator.
'discontented' says to hollow out the word (remove centre letters) (the word's contents are removed).
'bennett' with its middle taken out is 'bt'.
'replies' anagrammed gives 'elespri'.
'elespri' inserted inside 'bt' is 'BELESPRIT'.
'in' acts as a link.
Can you help me to learn more?