Perfect excuse briefly put forward around end of November (9)

I believe the answer is:

exemplary

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'perfect' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)

I cannot understand how the rest of the clue works.

(Other definitions for exemplary that I've seen before include "Worthy of imitation" , "Worth following as an example" , "Perfect" , "Ideal" , "Outstandingly good, others should imitate" .)

I've seen this clue in The Times.

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