The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 7 letter word EVOLVED
I've seen this crossword clue in The Daily Telegraph
E
V
O
L
V
E
D
More clues leading to the result EVOLVED
- Changed letter of introduction for delegate going to the Far East
- Balls, cut by very kinky love, developed?
- Spun sacks weaver finally developed
- Having developed, went around topless
- Mature of French against passion being rejected
- Having developed, went round topless
- Turned right away, or changed gradually
- Twisted Romeo being ditched developed gradually
Buddy explains!
The straight part
We know that "developed gradually" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case developed gradually = evolved.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 EVOLVED mean?
EVOLVED verb- To move in regular procession through a system.
- To change; transform.
- To come into being; develop.
- Of a population, to change genetic composition over successive generations through the process of evolution.
- To give off (gas, such as oxygen or carbon dioxide during a reaction).
- To cause something to change or transform.
- Having arisen through a process of evolution or iterative development.
- Biologically gifted