The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 8 letter word SUBPOENA
I've seen this crossword clue in Financial Times
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A
More clues leading to the result SUBPOENA
- Bean soup off? Serve this
- This may be officially served in a pub – one’s ordered
- Prepared bean soup served by a court officer
- Write about love – a newspaper man’s first – expressed in legal document
- Exotic bean soup that may be served legally
- This may be served in a pub — one’s ordered
- Summons from a pub one’s trashed
- It may be served when bean soup is off
- US author once chasing loan initially needed a writ
- Writ below Edgar Allan’s note, “top grade”
Buddy explains!
The straight part
We know that "This may be officially served" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case this may be officially served = subpoena.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 SUBPOENA mean?
SUBPOENA noun- A writ requiring a defendant to appear in court to answer a plaintiff's claim.
- A writ requiring someone to appear in court to give testimony.
- To summon with a subpoena.