For a short time, wonder about greeting Liberal (6)
I believe the answer is:
awhile
'for a short time' is the definition.
(I have seen 'short time' mean 'awhile' so perhaps 'time' could also mean 'awhile'; 'short' indicates a short form)
'wonder about greeting liberal' is the wordplay.
'wonder' becomes 'awe' (awe is a kind of wonder).
'about' indicates putting letters inside.
'greeting' becomes 'hi' (hi is a kind of greeting).
'liberal' becomes 'l' (abbreviation).
'hi'+'l'='hil'
'awe' going around 'hil' is 'AWHILE'.
(Other definitions for awhile that I've seen before include "a brief period" , "For a short time" , "briefly" .)