The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 4 letter word AUNT
I've seen this crossword clue in The Guardian
A
U
N
T
More clues leading to the result AUNT
- Old gossip’s reach, no time in disappearing
- Relative’s husband leaving frequently visited place
- Area in E London to search for relative
- Relative is haggard — not good!
- Hill-dweller accommodates posh relative
- Whisking daughter away, intimidate family member
- Sally of timeless mockery?
- Family member is cow
- Pawnbroker’s wife?
- Relation’s adieu not hollow
Buddy explains!
The straight part
We know that "Family" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case family = aunt.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 AUNT mean?
AUNT noun- The sister or sister-in-law of one’s parent.
- The female cousin of one’s parent.
- A woman of an older generation than oneself, especially a friend of one's parents, by means of fictive kin.
- Any elderly woman.
- A procuress or bawd.