Assertive canine I caught eating carpet (8)
I believe the answer is:
dogmatic
'assertive canine i caught eating carpet' is the definition.
I can't tell whether this definition defines the answer.
'assertive canine i caught eating carpet' is the wordplay.
'assertive canine' becomes 'dog' (dog is a kind of canine. I am not sure about the 'assertive' bit.).
'caught' becomes 'c' (cricket abbreviation).
'eating' indicates putting letters inside.
'carpet' becomes 'mat' (a mat is a floor covering).
'dog'+'i'+'c'='dogic'
'dogic' placed around 'mat' is 'DOGMATIC'.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for dogmatic that I've seen before include "Giving opinions in arrogant know-all way" , "Asserting things as incontrovertibly true" , "I'd tog Mac out to be overbearing" , "Stating opinions forcefully and arrogantly" , "Putting forward opinions in authoritative or intolerant way" .)