Present at this time then not to be found? (7)
I believe the answer is:
nowhere
'present at this time then not to be found?' is the definition.
Although both the answer and definition are singular nouns, I don't see how one could define the other.
'present at this time' is the wordplay.
'present' becomes 'here' (both can mean in attendance).
'at' means one lot of letters go next to another (I've seen this in other clues).
'this time' becomes 'now' (now is a kind of time).
'here' after 'now' is 'NOWHERE'.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for nowhere that I've seen before include "... and the rest ____"" , "Nonexistent place" , "unlikely to be found?" , "Utopia" , "Remote or uninteresting place" .)