The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 5 letter word ALTER
I've seen this crossword clue in Independent
A
L
T
E
R
More clues leading to the result ALTER
- Change table, by the sound of it
- Change flag when heading off
- Modify church table, one says
- Shift later slightly amended
- Modify rope after horse bolts
- Adapt that by which ’ighwayman ’anged
- Shift horse's strap that's trimmed at the front
- Change key with little hesitation
- Change feature of church for broadcast
- Sign of hesitation after key change
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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 ALTER mean?
ALTER verb- To change the form or structure of.
- To become different.
- To tailor clothes to make them fit.
- To castrate, neuter or spay (a dog or other animal).
- To affect mentally, as by psychotropic drugs or illness.
- (especially in the plural) An identity or headmate of a person with dissociative identity disorder (previously known as multiple personality disorder).
- A table or similar flat-topped structure used for religious rites.
- A raised area around an altar in a church; the sanctuary.
- Anything that is worshipped or sacrificed to.