The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 7 letter word DALLIED
I've seen this crossword clue in The Daily Telegraph
D
A
L
L
I
E
D
More clues leading to the result DALLIED
- Had an amorous relationship with duke, married
- Wasted time and faded away, having embraced everyone
- Having wasted time, daughter married
- Daughter getting married showed no sign of urgency
- Boy knocked over told fibs and dawdled
- Agreed with time out after date flirted
- Daughter in a relationship progressed slowly
Buddy explains!
The straight part
We know that "dawdled" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case dawdled = dallied.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 DALLIED mean?
DALLIED verb- To waste time in trivial activities, or in idleness; to trifle.
- To caress, especially of a sexual nature; to fondle or pet
- To delay unnecessarily; to while away.
- To wind the lasso rope (ie throw-rope) around the saddle horn (the saddle horn is attached to the pommel of a western style saddle) after the roping of an animal