Cryptic crossword clue
Kept quiet and withdrawn

The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 9 letter word PRESERVED

I've seen this crossword clue in The Guardian
P
R
E
S
E
R
V
E
D

Buddy explains!

The straight part
We know that "Kept" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case kept = preserved.
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 PRESERVED mean?

PRESERVED verb
  1. To protect; to keep from harm or injury.
  2. To save from decay by the use of some preservative substance, such as sugar or salt; to season and prepare (fruits, meat, etc.) for storage.
  3. To maintain throughout; to keep intact.

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