The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 6 letter word PARENT
I've seen this crossword clue in The Guardian
P
A
R
E
N
T
More clues leading to the result PARENT
- Perhaps father cut several books in the Bible
- Maybe mum or dad given monthly payment
- Seeming not to have used any precautions initially? That’s me
- Bring up secretary’s cleavage
- Progenitor’s yearly charge
- Father split his responsibility as such
- Tear after father or mother
- Mother and father split
- Maybe mother or father given periodic payment
- Father split his responsibility as a dad
Buddy explains!

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 PARENT mean?
PARENT noun- One of the two persons from whom one is immediately biologically descended; a mother or father.
- A surrogate mother
- A third person who has provided DNA samples in an IVF procedure in order to alter faulty genetic material
- A person who acts as a parent in rearing a child; a step-parent or adoptive parent.
- A relative.
- The source or origin of something.
- An organism from which a plant or animal is immediately biologically descended.
- Sponsor, supporter, owner, protector.
- The object from which a child or derived object is descended; a node superior to another node.
- To act as parent, to raise or rear.