Hermit takes one from left to right (5)
I believe the answer is:
loner
'hermit' is the definition.
(I've seen this in other clues)
'one from left to right' is the wordplay.
'one from left' becomes 'lone' (I can't justify this - if you can you should believe this answer much more).
'to right' becomes 'r' (abbreviation).
'lone'+'r'='LONER'
'takes' acts as a link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for loner that I've seen before include "One who avoids company" , "person, one hating company" , "Person who prefers his own company" , "No mixer" , "Unsociable person" .)