The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 8 letter word LAUREATE
I've seen this crossword clue in The Guardian
L
A
U
R
E
A
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E
More clues leading to the result LAUREATE
- Left gold for respected poet
- Person of honour dined with Lee — not I
- Decorated with distinction that’s overdue when it’s about waste conveyor
- Acclaimed pacifist, possibly Labour, lost heart getting endlessly beaten
- Line, golden, from this poet?
- Honour vehicle crew verbally
- The French old city energy fed prize-winner
- Honoured person deceased, having swallowed chemical compound
- Gold about to be accepted by former recipient of honour
- Short comedian upset person honoured with distinction
Buddy explains!

The straight part
We know that "this poet?" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case this poet? = laureate.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 LAUREATE mean?
LAUREATE noun- One crowned with laurel, such as a poet laureate or Nobel laureate.
- A graduate of a university.
- To honor with a wreath of laurel, as formerly was done in bestowing a degree at English universities.
- (sometimes postpositive) Crowned, or decked, with laurel.