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Favour European up to now (6)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

before

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'up to now' is the definition.
Both the answer and definition are adverbs. Perhaps there's a link between them I don't understand?

'favour european' is the wordplay.
'favour' becomes 'be for' (to favour something is to be 'for' it).
'european' becomes 'E' (abbreviation e.g. EU).
'befor'+'e'='BEFORE'

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for before that I've seen before include "Defy, withstand" , "In sight of" , "In front of (something)" , "In front of or previous to" , "Previously ? in front" .)

I've seen this clue in The Times.
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