Crossword Genius

'Mother', one ace opener for Lennon work (8)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

material

'work' is the definition.
(eg material by a writer)

'mother one ace opener for lennon' is the wordplay.
'mother' becomes 'mater' (old-fashioned term for mother).
'one' becomes 'i' (Roman numeral).
'ace' becomes 'a'.
'opener for' indicates taking the first letters.
The first letter of 'lennon' is 'l'.
'mater'+'i'+'a'+'l'='MATERIAL'

(Other definitions for material that I've seen before include "Essential" , "of serious importance" , "Felt, perhaps" , "Important; fabric" , "Relevant sort of cloth?" .)

I've seen this clue in The Telegraph.
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