Means Vera worked a long time (8)
I believe the answer is:
averages
'means' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)
'vera worked a long time' is the wordplay.
'worked' indicates an anagram.
'a long time' becomes 'ages' (I've seen this before).
'vera' anagrammed gives 'aver'.
'aver'+'ages'='AVERAGES'
(Other definitions for averages that I've seen before include "Middle values" , "Evens out to" , "estimations of mean" , "Save rage (anag.)" , "that are of great concern to cricketers" .)