… quite a few take off early every now and then (7)
I believe the answer is:
several
'quite a few' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)
'off early every now and then' is the wordplay.
'off' becomes 'sever' (I can't justify this - if you can you should believe this answer much more).
'every now and then' means one should take alternating letters (letters selected at regular intervals).
The alternate letters of 'early' are 'al'.
'sever'+'al'='SEVERAL'
'take' is the link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for several that I've seen before include "Reveals (anag.)" , "Assorted" , "three or four" , "Some participants" , "quite a lot" .)