Cryptic crossword clue
Civet spied in grass, often retreating 5

The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 5 letter word FOSSA

I've seen this crossword clue in The Times
F
O
S
S
A

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The straight part
We know that "Civet" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case civet = fossa.
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 FOSSA mean?

FOSSA noun
  1. A pit, groove, cavity, or depression.
  2. A long, narrow, shallow depression on the body of an extraterrestrial body, such as a planet or moon.
FOSSA noun
  1. A carnivorous mammal endemic to Madagascar, Cryptoprocta ferox.

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