Cryptic crossword clue
Male needing place to retire with suitable companion 8

The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 8 letter word HELPMEET

H
E
L
P
M
E
E
T

Buddy explains!

The straight part
We know that "companion" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case companion = helpmeet.
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 HELPMEET mean?

HELPMEET noun
  1. A helpful partner, particularly a spouse.

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