The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 8 letter word ABLATIVE
I've seen this crossword clue in The Times
A
B
L
A
T
I
V
E
More clues leading to the result ABLATIVE
- President once holding key, rising to make a case
- Piece of evidence vital, barrister reviewed case
- Give most important backing in a live case
- In Lincoln, key turning up for case
- Case is essential up in Lincoln
- Case of extreme importance coming up in Lincoln
- Two muscles I have in case
- Shred bat alive, in case of Roman pursuit
- Possibly what to use when declining a rabid live bat
- One’s muscles are paramount for hard case?
Buddy explains!
The straight part
We know that "case" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case case = ablative.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 ABLATIVE mean?
ABLATIVE noun- (grammar) The ablative case.
- An ablative material.
- (grammar) Applied to one of the cases of the noun in some languages, the fundamental meaning of the case being removal, separation, or taking away, and to a lesser degree, instrument, place, accordance, specifications, price, or measurement.
- Pertaining to taking away or removing.
- Sacrificial, wearing away or being destroyed in order to protect the underlying, as in ablative paints used for antifouling. .
- Relating to the removal of a body part, tumor, or organ.
- Relating to the erosion of a land mass; relating to the melting or evaporation of a glacier.