Unlimited fame? It was sufficient once (4)

I believe the answer is:

enow

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'sufficient once' is the definition.
(I've seen this in another clue)

'unlimited fame?' is the wordplay.
'unlimited' indicates the central letters (discard the edges or 'limits' of the word).
'fame?' becomes 'renown' (synonyms).
The centre of 'renown' is 'ENOW'.

'it was' acts as a link.
I am not very happy about this link. Some or all of it may be part of another bit of the clue.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for enow that I've seen before include "Old enough" , "a moment ago" , "up in Scotland" , "Enough (archaic)" , "adequate" .)

I've seen this clue in The Times.

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