Controlled setter, confident when dismissing second son (8)
I believe the answer is:
measured
'controlled setter confident when dismissing second son' is the definition.
I can't tell whether this definition defines the answer.
'controlled setter confident when dismissing second' is the wordplay.
'controlled setter' becomes 'me' (the setter of the clue. I am not sure about the 'controlled' bit.).
'confident' becomes 'assured' (similar in meaning).
'when dismissing' suggests deleting specific letters.
'second' becomes 's' (common abbreviation).
'assured' with 's' taken out is 'asured'.
'me'+'asured'='MEASURED'
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for measured that I've seen before include "Sober" , "Weighed" , "Carefully considered and restrained" , "Calculated, quantified" , "Deliberate, restrained" .)