The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 9 letter word CULTIVATE
I've seen this crossword clue in Independent
C
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L
T
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More clues leading to the result CULTIVATE
- Devote attention to four consumed by religious sect
- Grow crop, last of rye bordering vital ground
- Encourage secretive group that is hiding tax
- Victual supply not the heart of the farm
- Improve knowledge of belief system that is to limit tax
- Further suspect vital in winning case
- Fetching across vital supply for farm
- Religion had four parts to devote attention to
- Farm veal; cut it erratically
Buddy explains!
The straight part
We know that "Devote attention to" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case devote attention to = cultivate.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 CULTIVATE mean?
CULTIVATE verb- To grow plants, notably crops
- To nurture; to foster; to tend.
- To turn or stir soil in preparation for planting.