"___ the bonnie boat was won / As we sailed into the mystic" (Van Morrison lyric) (3)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

ere

(Other definitions for ere that I've seen before include "Old word for before" , "Before (lit.)" , "Before (in time)" , "Old prior" , "One who steals" .)

I've seen this clue in The New York Times.

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