The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 9 letter word RECONDITE
I've seen this crossword clue in The Daily Telegraph
R
E
C
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More clues leading to the result RECONDITE
- Obscure playground rumour finally true
- Obscure eastern doctrine recollected
- Arcane ceremony involves topless runner-up
- Little known version of eastern doctrine
- New doctrine, eastern, abstruse
- Difficult to get credit, one broke
- Obscure diet once developed by head of research
- Credit one novel to be profound
- Obscure journalist admits trick in formal practice
- Obscure novel tried once
Buddy explains!
The straight part
We know that "Difficult" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case difficult = recondite.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 RECONDITE mean?
RECONDITE noun- A recondite (hidden or obscure) person or thing.
- A scholar or other person who is recondite, that is, who has mastery over his or her field, including its esoteric minutiae.
- To conceal, cover up, hide.
- Of areas of discussion or research: difficult, obscure.
- (somewhat obsolete) Hidden or removed from view.