Rudimentary creep got mates to eavesdrop? (8)
I believe the answer is:
inchoate
'rudimentary' is the definition.
(both can mean still in development)
'creep got mates to eavesdrop?' is the wordplay.
I cannot really understand how this works, but
'creep' could be 'inch' (I've seen this in another clue) and 'inch' is located in the answer.
This explanation may well be incorrect...
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for inchoate that I've seen before include "Undeveloped" , "at an early stage" , "Confused" , "Rudimentary, not fully formed" , "Rough" .)