Look closely to develop spending with commoners of a sort? (4,5)
I believe the answer is:
peer group
'a sort?' is the definition.
Although both the answer and definition are singular nouns, I cannot understand how one could define the other.
'look closely to develop spending with commoners of' is the wordplay.
'look closely' becomes 'peer' (I've seen this in another clue).
'to develop' becomes 'grow' (growing is a kind of developing).
'spending' indicates named letters should be taken away (to spend can mean to give out or give away).
'with' becomes 'w' (abbreviation).
'commoners of' becomes 'up' (I can't explain this - if you can you should believe this answer much more).
'grow' with 'w' taken away is 'gro'.
'peer'+'gro'+'up'='PEER GROUP'
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for peer group that I've seen before include "People of a certain age" , "People like oneself" , "those of similar age" , "People who are associated with and of equal status" , "set to meet in the upper house?" .)