Clue: Nine divine females married pursuers off and on (5)
Answer: MUSES
Explanation: Definition: Nine divine females
 M(abbrev. for "married") + **2nd, 4th, 6th and 8th letters of**(… off and on) "pursuers".
Defn: …, viz. the nine sister goddesses in Greek and Roman mythology each of whom oversee a different branch of the arts and sciences.