Crossword Genius

Any of several women greeting companion always following (9)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

whichever

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'any of several' is the definition.
I don't know anything about this answer so I cannot tell whether it can be defined by this definition.

'women greeting companion always following' is the wordplay.
'women' becomes 'w' (standard abbreviation).
'greeting' becomes 'hi' (hi is a kind of greeting).
'companion' becomes 'ch' (Companion of Honour).
'always' becomes 'ever' (synonyms).
'following' says to put letters next to each other.
'w'+'hi'+'ch'+'ever'='WHICHEVER'

Can you help me to learn more?

(Another definition for whichever that I've seen is " Any one".)

I've seen this clue in the Sydney Morning Herald.
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