Cryptic crossword clue
Groom, stiffly formal before start of proceedings 5

The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 5 letter word PRIMP

I've seen this crossword clue in Financial Times
P
R
I
M
P


Buddy explains!

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 PRIMP mean?

PRIMP verb
  1. To spend time improving one's appearance, often in front of a mirror.
  2. To dress in an affected manner.

Latest crossword clues with full explanations