The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 8 letter word DECEASED
I've seen this crossword clue in The Guardian
D
E
C
E
A
S
E
D
More clues leading to the result DECEASED
- Last days of the year were relaxing no more
- Late last month, became calmer
- Late December got milder
- TV presenter slid gently into lifeless state
- Peter out wanting run before date getting late
- No longer with us, having relaxed after end of year
- Fell without resistance — gone
- Dead indeed, case is bizarre
- Losing resistance, weakened and died
- Legal document obscures strange case of one who died
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 DECEASED mean?
DECEASED noun- A dead person.
- One who has died. In property law, the alternate term decedent is generally used in US English. In criminal law, “the deceased” refers to the victim of a homicide.
- No longer alive, dead
- Belonging to the dead.
- One who has died. In property law, the alternate term decedent is generally used. In criminal law, “the deceased” refers to the victim of a homicide.