The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 8 letter word FLOODLIT
I've seen this crossword clue in The Times
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More clues leading to the result FLOODLIT
- After fare's cut by pound, drunk’s brightened up
- Pitch isn't black when it's this
- Line in cookery books, maybe, was intensely illuminating
- Like some matches of old, carelessly ignited
- Books on early Biblical event were powerfully illuminating
- Well-illuminated student’s taken in sustenance and literature
- Fifty tucking into meat, perhaps flambé, visible in the dark
- Like actor on stage may be till food is cooked
- Placed under powerful lamp till food gets ruined
- Deluge with literature, receiving dazzling illumination
Buddy explains!
The straight part
We know that "were powerfully illuminating" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case were powerfully illuminating = floodlit.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 FLOODLIT mean?
FLOODLIT verb- To enlighten or illuminate with floodlight(s).
- Lit by floodlights.