The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 5 letter word NEVER
I've seen this crossword clue in The Times
N
E
V
E
R
More clues leading to the result NEVER
- Resolve to move rook to the fifth? No way
- No way in, game finally remarkably short
- Ideal state to always always stay up then?
- Guinevere’s content? No way!
- Tyneside vicar upset about French writer’s method of payment
- Nebuchadnezzar, extremely welcoming Old Testament figure? In no degree!
- Cycling French novelist? Certainly not!
- Divorce, swapping partners? Surely not!
- Certainly not close to autumn, the night before last in summer
- You don’t say when parallel lines meet
Buddy explains!
The straight part
We know that "Ideal state" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case ideal state = never.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 NEVER mean?
NEVER adverb- At no time; on no occasion; in no circumstance.
- Not at any other time; not on any other occasion; not previously.
- Negative particle (used to negate verbs in the simple past tense; also used absolutely).