Very early, having time (4)

I believe the answer is:

year

'time' is the definition.
(year is a unit of time)

'very early having' is the wordplay.
'having' indicates the answer is hidden within the clue.
'YEAR' is hidden within 'very early'.

(Other definitions for year that I've seen before include "See 33 Across" , "Group of students" , "Full calendar?" , "Orbital period" , "One intake of undergrads" .)

I've seen this clue in The Mirror.

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