Crossword Genius

Observer and Times supporting old-fashioned Republican (6-2)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

passer-by

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'observer' is the definition.
Both the definition and answer are singular nouns.
Maybe there's an association between them I don't understand?

'times supporting old-fashioned republican' is the wordplay.
'times' becomes 'by' (both can mean 'multiplied by').
'supporting' says to put letters next to each other (in a down clue, some letters go below others).
'old-fashioned' becomes 'passe' (synonyms).
'republican' becomes 'r' (abbreviation).
'passe'+'r'='passer'
'by' after 'passer' is 'PASSER-BY'.

'and' acts as a link.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for passer-by that I've seen before include "Spectator not stopping?" , "Person who happens to be going past" , "One happening past" , "Person walking past" , "One walking near" .)

I've seen this clue in The Times.
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