... always? Not at all, not north (4)
I believe the answer is:
ever
'always?' is the definition.
(synonyms)
'not at all not north' is the wordplay.
'not at all' becomes 'never' (I've seen this before).
'not' is a deletion indicator.
'north' becomes 'N' (synonyms).
'never' with 'n' taken out is 'EVER'.
(Other definitions for ever that I've seen before include "Continuously" , "Always and permanent" , "Eternally" , "Veer away endlessly" , "At all times, always" .)