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Present opened merrily on December evening - really nice! (6)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

modern

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'present' is the definition.
(thesaurus)

I don't understand the remainder of the clue.

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(Other definitions for modern that I've seen before include "Present-day" , "See 11" , "Recent, up to date" , "Activity of 18 ac" , "'Contemporary, up-to-the-minute (6)'" .)

I've seen this clue in the Sydney Morning Herald.
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