Crossword Genius

Long period before November (5)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

yearn

'long' is the definition.
(I know that long can be written as yearn)

'period before november' is the wordplay.
'period' becomes 'year' (year is a kind of period).
'before' is a charade indicator (letters next to each other).
'november' becomes 'N' (phonetic alphabet: alpha, bravo, charlie etc.).
'year'+'n'='YEARN'

(Other definitions for yearn that I've seen before include "Hanker" , "Have an intense feeling of longing" , "Curdle" , "Mark of injury" , "Long - pine" .)

I've seen this clue in The Independent and The Times.
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