The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 9 letter word ALIGNMENT
I've seen this crossword clue in The Guardian
A
L
I
G
N
M
E
N
T
More clues leading to the result ALIGNMENT
- Nonconformist lamenting order
- Straightening leg Tin Man bust
- A business that indicated vocal co-operation
- Group of malign men torpedo alliance with party
- Lamenting about getting rows correct
- Alliance lamenting jerks
- Lamenting bungling order
- Straightening a tendon without a need initially to replace it
- Order a side of nachos in melting fondue
- Lamenting changes in political allegiance
Buddy explains!
The straight part
We know that "Alliance" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case alliance = alignment.The cryptic/wordplay part
In cryptic crossword there's often an wordplay/cryptic part as well.This part involves a more complex hint, such as an anagram, homophone, hidden word, etc.
Sadly, We don't have an explanation for this specific crossword clue yet.
What does ALIGNMENT mean?
ALIGNMENT noun- An arrangement of items in a line.
- The process of adjusting a mechanism such that its parts are aligned; the condition of having its parts so adjusted.
- An alliance of factions.
- The conjunction of two celestial objects.
- The precise route or course taken by a linear way (road, railway, footpath, etc.) between two points.
- In a roleplaying game, one of a set number of philosophical attitudes a character can take.
- A way of arranging DNA, RNA or protein sequences in order to identify regions of similarity.