Remove load from hanger-on in a Parisian retreat (8)
I believe the answer is:
unburden
'remove load' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)
'hanger-on in a parisian retreat' is the wordplay.
'hanger-on' becomes 'bur' (type of seed which hangs onto clothing).
'in' is an insertion indicator.
'a parisian' becomes 'un' ('a' in French).
'retreat' becomes 'den' (both can mean a lair or hideout).
'un'+'den'='unden'
'bur' going inside 'unden' is 'UNBURDEN'.
'from' acts as a link.
(Other definitions for unburden that I've seen before include "Relieve of a load" , "Ease the load" , "Remove load" .)