Virginia, girl brought up as dependant (6)
I believe the answer is:
vassal
'dependant' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)
'virginia girl brought up' is the wordplay.
'virginia' becomes 'va' (US state abbreviation).
'girl' becomes 'lass' (lass can informally mean a girl).
'brought up' says the letters should be written in reverse (in a down clue, letters go up).
'lass' in reverse letter order is 'ssal'.
'va'+'ssal'='VASSAL'
'as' is the link.
(Other definitions for vassal that I've seen before include "Feudal landholder" , "A medieval servant" , "Person owing service to a feudal lord" , "Old retainer" , "Lord's servant (historical)" .)