A couple occasionally query dilettante (7)

I believe the answer is:

amateur

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

'a couple occasionally query' is the wordplay.
'couple' becomes 'mate' (synonyms).
'occasionally' means one should take alternating letters.
The alternating letters of 'query' are 'ur'.
'a'+'mate'+'ur'='AMATEUR'

(Other definitions for amateur that I've seen before include "refusing payment" , "Dilettante: buff" , "Unpaid or unskilled" , "Unpaid player" , "Inept, non-professional" .)

I've seen this clue in The Independent.

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