Ever reduced numerically (3)
I believe the answer is:
eer
'ever' is the definition.
(synonyms)
I don't understand how the remainder of the clue works.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for eer that I've seen before include "Always (poetical)" , "Ever poetically" , "Always (poetic)" , "Ever to the poet (3)." , "Before, poetically speaking (1'2)" .)