Long period of time before November (5)
I believe the answer is:
yearn
'long' is the definition.
('yearn' can be a synonym of 'long')
'period of time before november' is the wordplay.
'period of time' becomes 'year' (year is a kind of period of time**).
'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 "Desire, want" , "Have an intense feeling of longing" , "Have strong desire" , "lust" , "Curdle" .)