Worried by an unknown number of debts? (7)
I believe the answer is:
anxious
'worried' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)
'by an unknown number of debts?' is the wordplay.
'by' is a charade indicator (letters next to each other).
'an unknown' becomes 'x' (algebra).
'number of' becomes 'an' (I can't explain this - if you can you should believe this answer much more).
'debts?' becomes 'IOUs' (promises to pay debts).
'x' after 'an' is 'anx'.
'anx'+'ious'='ANXIOUS'
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for anxious that I've seen before include "Restless" , "Worried, nervous" , "Jittery" , "Fretful, worried" , "Apprehensive, uneasy" .)