To the extent of rains scattered about (7)
I believe the answer is:
insofar
'to the extent' is the definition.
I can't tell whether this definition defines the answer.
'of rains scattered about' is the wordplay.
'scattered' is an anagram indicator.
'about' means one lot of letters goes inside another.
'rains' anagrammed gives 'insar'.
'of' going into 'insar' is 'INSOFAR'.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for insofar that I've seen before include "as you'd expect after this word's been given" , "... to the extent" .)