Sooner than show a little reverence? (3)
I believe the answer is:
ere
'sooner than' is the definition.
(I've seen this in another clue)
'a little reverence?' is the wordplay.
'a little' indicates the answer is hidden within the clue (a little bit of the clue).
'ERE' is hidden in the letters of 'reverence'.
'show' acts as a link.
(Other definitions for ere that I've seen before include "One who steals" , "Before (lit.)" , "Before (in poetry)" , "Before (in time)" , "Old prior" .)