Old female repeatedly absent (3)
I believe the answer is:
off
'absent' is the definition.
(I've seen this in other clues)
'old female repeatedly' is the wordplay.
'old' becomes 'o' (common abbreviation eg in OE for Old English).
'female' becomes 'f' (common abbreviation).
'repeatedly' says to double the letters.
'f' doubled is 'ff'.
'o'+'ff'='OFF'
(Other definitions for off that I've seen before include "Complete (6,3) - See 14" , "Away, at a distance" , "Turned, sour" , "Away - sick?" , "Away, or beginning to decay" .)