... secreting file within intricate inner base (9)
I believe the answer is:
endocrine
'secreting file' is the definition.
The definition suggests a singular noun which matches the answer.
'within intricate inner base' is the wordplay.
I cannot quite understand how this works, but
'within' could be 'in' and 'in' is located in the answer.
'base' could be 'e' (I've seen this in other clues) and 'e' is found in the answer.
This may be the basis of clue (or it may be nonsense).
Can you help me to learn more?
(Another definition for endocrine that I've seen is " Of gland, secreting straight into blood and not through duct".)