Attacked: enjoyed festive booze-up without wife (8)
I believe the answer is:
assailed
'attacked' is the definition.
('assail' can be a synonym of 'attack')
I don't understand the rest of the clue.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for assailed that I've seen before include "Under attack" , "Violently attacked" , "charged" , "Went for" , "Attacked, lashed out" .)