Particular epics adapted by figurehead in charge (8)
I believe the answer is:
specific
'particular' is the definition.
('specific' can be similar in meaning to 'particular')
'epics adapted by figurehead in charge' is the wordplay.
'adapted' is an anagram indicator.
'by' says to put letters next to each other.
'figurehead' becomes 'f' (head letter of 'figure').
'in charge' becomes 'ic'.
'epics' anagrammed gives 'speci'.
'speci'+'f'+'ic'='SPECIFIC'
(Other definitions for specific that I've seen before include "Particular, definite" , "remedy" , "Explicit, exact" , "Explicit or in detail" , "medieval drug" .)