Crossword Genius

Permanent party with free food will draw in criminal (8)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

lifelong

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'permanent party' is the definition.
Both the definition and answer are adjectives. Perhaps they are linked in a way I don't understand?

'free food will draw in criminal' is the wordplay.
'free food will' becomes 'lig' (I am not sure about this - if you are sure you should give a lot more credence to this answer).
'draw in' indicates putting letters inside.
'criminal' becomes 'felon' (synonyms).
'lig' going around 'felon' is 'LIFELONG'.

'with' is the link.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for lifelong that I've seen before include "Birth-to-death" , "Till death" , "with no possibility of release" , "serious custodial sentence" , "Lasting from birth to death" .)

I've seen this clue in The Independent.
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