It's the very reverse of a bit of malevolence! (4)
I believe the answer is:
love
'it's the' is the definition.
I can't tell whether this definition defines the answer.
'reverse of a bit of malevolence' is the wordplay.
'reverse of' says the letters should be written backwards.
'a bit of' says the answer is hidden in the clue.
'evol' is hidden within 'malevolence'.
'evol' back-to-front is 'LOVE'.
'very' is the link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for love that I've seen before include "Deep affection" , "Zero score (it's all you need)" , "Nothing for Andy Murray" , "affair? On the contrary" , "See 22" .)