The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 9 letter word GRADUATED
I've seen this crossword clue in The Guardian
G
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Buddy explains!
The straight part
We know that "Marked by degrees/now possessing one" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case marked by degrees/now possessing one = graduated.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 GRADUATED mean?
GRADUATED verb- To be recognized by a school or university as having completed the requirements of a degree studied at the institution.
- To be certified as having earned a degree from; to graduate from (an institution).
- To certify (a student) as having earned a degree
- To mark (something) with degrees; to divide into regular steps or intervals, as the scale of a thermometer, a scheme of punishment or rewards, etc.
- To change gradually.
- To prepare gradually; to arrange, temper, or modify by degrees or to a certain degree; to determine the degrees of.
- To bring to a certain degree of consistency, by evaporation, as a fluid.
- To taper, as the tail of certain birds.
- In steps.
- Having a university degree; having completed training.
- Marked with graduations.
- Arranged by grade, level, degree.
- Increasing in rate with the taxable base.
- Of a tail, having successively longer feathers towards the middle.