Close — initially not even remote? Not initially (4)
I believe the answer is:
near
'close' is the definition.
(I know that close can be written as near)
'initially not even remote? not initially' is the wordplay.
'initially' suggests taking the first letters.
'remote?' becomes 'far' (similar in meaning).
'not initially' means to remove the first letter.
The initial letters of 'not even' is 'ne'.
'far' with its first letter taken away is 'ar'.
'ne'+'ar'='NEAR'
(Other definitions for near that I've seen before include "Close; almost" , "Within reach" , "Nigh" , "Almost; approach" , "Mean, close" .)