Cryptic crossword clue
The clever head raises enthusiasm 8

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

I've seen this crossword clue in Financial Times
K
E
E
N
N
E
S
S

Buddy explains!

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

KEENNESS noun
  1. Sharpness or cutting ability
  2. Astuteness or sagacity
  3. Eagerness or enthusiasm

Latest crossword clues with full explanations