The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 6 letter word READER
I've seen this crossword clue in The Guardian
R
E
A
D
E
R
More clues leading to the result READER
- Book muckspreader with 50% reduction
- Newspaper customer is university lecturer
- Lecturer's case for Drake being confined to Tower
- University academic, a Times subscriber, perhaps?
- She lectures on fieldwork, mostly going west
- Lecturer of French lags behind? Au contraire!
- Contrarily, editor cutting back is one authors rely on
- More expensive doctor to be exchanged for lecturer
- Head of showbiz gang? That’s you, right now
- School book? Number left off study in the back
Buddy explains!
The straight part
We know that "one authors rely on" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case one authors rely on = reader.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 READER mean?
READER noun- A person who reads
- A person who reads a publication.
- A person who recites literary works, usually to an audience.
- A proofreader.
- A person employed by a publisher to read works submitted for publication and determine their merits
- A university lecturer ranking below a professor.
- Any device that reads something.
- A book of exercises to accompany a textbook.
- An elementary textbook for those learning to read, especially for foreign languages.
- A literary anthology.
- A lay or minor cleric who reads lessons in a church service.
- A newspaper advertisement designed to look like a news article rather than a commercial solicitation.
- (in the plural) Reading glasses.
- (in the plural) Marked playing cards used by cheats.