Crossword Genius

Medium that is in opposition to gangster is old-fashioned and primitive (8)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

medieval

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'medium that is in opposition to gangster is old-fashioned and primitive' is the definition.
Both the definition and answer are adjectives. Perhaps they are linked in a way I don't understand?

'medium that is in opposition to gangster' is the wordplay.
'medium' becomes 'm' (as in UK clothing sizes).
'that' becomes 'edie' (I am not sure about this - if you are sure you should believe this answer much more).
'is in opposition to' becomes 'v' (abbreviation for versus).
'gangster' becomes 'al' (Al Capone).
'm'+'edie'+'v'+'al'='MEDIEVAL'

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for medieval that I've seen before include "Belonging to the Middle Ages" , "Relating to the Middle Ages" , "Am veiled in style of the middle ages" , "Of the middle ages, or really old-fashioned" , "Of an earlier period" .)

I've seen this clue in The Irish Times.
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