Crossword Genius

Wife, maybe, requires support, heading off (6)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

spouse

'wife maybe' is the definition.
(a wife is a female spouse)

'support heading off' is the wordplay.
'support' becomes 'espouse' (I've seen this in another clue).
'heading off' means to remove the first letter.
'espouse' with its initial letter taken off is 'SPOUSE'.

'requires' acts as a link.

(Other definitions for spouse that I've seen before include "Consort" , "Married partner" , "mate" , "Possibly wife" , "Elizabethan dance" .)

I've seen this clue in The Times.
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