The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 7 letter word INITIAL
I've seen this crossword clue in The Times
I
N
I
T
I
A
L
More clues leading to the result INITIAL
- First letter, one I penned in ancient language going north
- First piece of writing, one I found in Latin needing going over
- Original sign
- First to mark as read, perhaps
- First sign
- Where programmer works with terminals on Wi-Fi data protocol first
- . Endorse a letter of introduction
- First link with big man flu uncovered
- The first sign
- “Essential to contain it” I alleged at the beginning
Buddy explains!
The straight part
We know that "First letter" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case first letter = initial.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 INITIAL mean?
INITIAL noun- The first letter of a word or a name.
- In plural, the first letter of each word of a person's full name considered as a unit.
- A distinguished initial letter of a chapter or section of a document.
- Onset, part of a syllable that precedes the syllable nucleus in phonetics and phonology.
- To sign one's initial(s), as an abbreviated signature.
- Chronologically first, early; of or pertaining to the beginning, cause or origin.
- Spatially first, placed at the beginning, in the first position; especially said of the first letter of a word.