Ragged female begged to be spared penny (6)
I believe the answer is:
frayed
'ragged' is the definition.
(synonyms)
'female begged to be spared penny' is the wordplay.
'female' becomes 'f' (common abbreviation).
'begged' becomes 'prayed' ('pray' can be a synonym of 'beg').
'to be spared' indicates named letters should be taken away.
'penny' becomes 'p'.
'prayed' with 'p' removed is 'rayed'.
'f'+'rayed'='FRAYED'
(Other definitions for frayed that I've seen before include "Torn at the edges as from wear" , "Threadbare and worn" , "Tattered and worn at edges" , "Of garment, worn and with loose threads" , "Ravelled at the edges" .)