The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 9 letter word SPIRITUAL
I've seen this crossword clue in The Times
S
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More clues leading to the result SPIRITUAL
- Unworldly, one union trapped in cycle of decline?
- Southern private investigator has custom that’s unworldly
- Purist Ali feigned having a religious air
- Odds on one ceremony being religious
- Southern song from It’s Immaterial
- Holy son wants holy form of worship
- Religious ceremony after short trip
- Hymn from Southern religious ceremony
- Ecclesiastical custom follows endless slanted presentation
- Religious ceremony supporting leaders in small Pacific island
Buddy explains!
The straight part
We know that "Unworldly" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case unworldly = spiritual.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 SPIRITUAL mean?
SPIRITUAL noun- A Christian religious song, especially one in an African-American style, or a similar non-religious song.
- Any spiritual function, office, or affair.
- Of or pertaining to the spirit or the soul.
- Of or pertaining to God or a place of worship; sacred.
- Of or pertaining to spirits; supernatural.
- Consisting of spirit; not material; incorporeal.
- Of or relating to the intellectual and higher endowments of the mind; mental; intellectual.
- Controlled and inspired by the Holy Spirit; pure; holy.
- Not lay or temporal; relating to sacred things; ecclesiastical.