Invariably severely reduced (4)

I believe the answer is:

ever

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

'severely reduced' is the wordplay.
'reduced' indicates a hidden word (reducing the letters in the clue shows the answer).
'EVER' is hidden within 'severely'.

(Other definitions for ever that I've seen before include "Eternity" , "In perpetuity" , "Eternally" , "Veer away endlessly" , "At all times, always" .)

I've seen this clue in the Evening Standard.

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