Less than average time (3)

I believe the answer is:

era

'time' is the definition.
(an era is a period of time)

'less than average' is the wordplay.
'less' indicates the answer is hidden within the clue (the clue less some of the letters in it).
'ERA' is hidden in the letters of 'than average'.

(Other definitions for era that I've seen before include "day" , "Long historic period" , "Specific time" , "Major division of geological time" , "Memorable period" .)

I've seen this clue in the Evening Standard.

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