At an earlier time (4)
I believe the answer is:
once
<span class="explanation-format__ClueExplanation">'<span class="explanation-format__original">at an earlier time</span>' is the definition.<br/ ><span class="explanation-format__explanation">(I've seen this in another clue)</span><br/ ><br/ >This is the entire clue.<br/ ></span>
(Other definitions for once that I've seen before include "In the old days" , "In former times" , "Cone (anag.)" , "in bygone days" , "Formerly, at one time" .)