The present Dawn has to give Dan (3)

I believe the answer is:

now

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'the present' is the definition.
(both can mean the current period)

I cannot understand how the rest of the clue works.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for now that I've seen before include "At the present time" , "At this moment in time" , "At present, this instant" , "The present moment" , "straight away" .)

I've seen this clue in The Times.

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