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Abducted by alien in ET, I estimate for ten years (8)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

nineties

I'm a little stuck... Click here to teach me more about this clue!

'ten years' is the definition.
Although both the answer and definition are plural nouns, I cannot see how one could define the other.

'abducted by alien in et i estimate' is the wordplay.
'NINETIES' is hidden in amongst the letters.
But, I'm unsure how this is indicated.

'for' acts as a link.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for nineties that I've seen before include "many old people are in" , "Last decade of century" , "Time" , "19th century's "naughty" decade" , "Previous decade" .)

I've seen this clue in The Telegraph.
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