Several periods are withdrawn
I believe the answer is:
era
'several periods' is the definition.
(I've seen this in another clue)
'are withdrawn' is the wordplay.
'withdrawn' is a reversal indicator.
'are' reversed gives 'ERA'.
(Other definitions for era that I've seen before include "Important date" , "generation, maybe" , "Long stretch" , "Eon" , "Age marked by a distinctive character" .)