Time following near darkness (5)
I believe the answer is:
night
'darkness' is the definition.
(night is a period of darkness)
'time following near' is the wordplay.
'time' becomes 't' (abbreviation).
'following' is a charade indicator (letters next to each other).
'near' becomes 'nigh' (similar in meaning).
't' after 'nigh' is 'NIGHT'.
(Other definitions for night that I've seen before include "See 8" , "Ignorance" , "See 9" , "See 1 Across" , "8d [DARKNESS]" .)