See file on German leader (5)
I believe the answer is:
grasp
'see' is the definition.
(thesaurus)
'file on german leader' is the wordplay.
'file' becomes 'rasp' (rasp is a kind of file**).
'on' means one lot of letters go next to another.
'leader' indicates taking the first letters.
The first letter of 'german' is 'g'.
'rasp' put after 'g' is 'GRASP'.
(Other definitions for grasp that I've seen before include "Appreciation" , "Understand (the point)" , "Take hold of firmly" , "Comprehension" , "Take firm hold" .)