The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 7 letter word IMITATE
I've seen this crossword clue in The Times
I
M
I
T
A
T
E
More clues leading to the result IMITATE
- Do I lie with another having embraced sex appeal?
- Border, not left bolted down: thereby flatter? [7]
- Parrot — friend keeps it on island
- Copy current computer technology in China
- Parrot I breed to assimilate computer technology!
- Ape I note by gallery
- Pretend to be with it around left-leaning Australian guy on ecstasy
- I make love outside Congress to reproduce, perhaps
- Take off tie, and I’m at work!
- . Follow in the footsteps of Italian visiting India and China
Buddy explains!
The straight part
We know that "thereby flatter" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case thereby flatter = imitate.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 IMITATE mean?
IMITATE verb- To follow as a model or a pattern; to make a copy, counterpart or semblance of.