Assume I note sex appeal surrounding that woman (7)
I believe the answer is:
inherit
'assume' is the definition.
The answer and definition can be both to do with ownership as well as being verbs in their base form.
Maybe you can see an association between them that I can't see?
'i note sex appeal surrounding that woman' is the wordplay.
'i note' becomes 'in' (this could be a standard abbreviation I've not previously seen).
'sex appeal' becomes 'it'.
'surrounding' is an insertion indicator.
'that woman' becomes 'her' ('her' refers to a woman).
'in'+'it'='init'
'init' going around 'her' is 'INHERIT'.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for inherit that I've seen before include "Receive by succession or via a will" , "Be the recipient of" , "Receive as heir" , "Acquire from ancestors" , "Receive from a deceased parent" .)