The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 10 letter word ORIGINALLY
I've seen this crossword clue in The Sunday Telegraph
O
R
I
G
I
N
A
L
L
Y
More clues leading to the result ORIGINALLY
- Novel extremely lively to begin with
- Wild gorilla in agony ultimately when born?
- Ring, loyal, I organised at outset
- Occasionally Boursin and drink with partner initially
- Old friend purchases outfit, fashionable at first
- How medicine may be taken, gulping one drink first
- Old tackle popular with partner at first
- One drink taken in by mouth at first
- Love joining meeting, swallowing one drink to begin with
- First using mouth to swallow one drink
Buddy explains!
The straight part
We know that "at first" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case at first = originally.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 ORIGINALLY mean?
ORIGINALLY adverb- As it was in the beginning.
- In an original manner.