Crossword Genius

Despicable blokes initially tenanted bottom floor? (8)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

basement

'bottom floor?' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)

'despicable blokes initially tenanted' is the wordplay.
'despicable' becomes 'base' (synonyms).
'blokes' becomes 'men' (bloke can informally mean a man).
'initially' suggests taking the first letters.
The initial letter of 'tenanted' is 't'.
'base'+'men'+'t'='BASEMENT'

(Other definitions for basement that I've seen before include "Floor below ground level" , "Man beset in bottom of house" , "Japanese medicine box" , "space below stairs" , "Lowest floor of a building" .)

I've seen this clue in The Telegraph.
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