Crossword Genius

The paints set before us? (2,3,4)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

in the past

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

'the paints set' is the wordplay.
'set' indicates anagramming the letters (instruction to set the letters).
'the'+'paints'='thepaints'
'thepaints' is an anagram of 'IN THE PAST'.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Another definition for in the past that I've seen is " unorthodox once".)

I've seen this clue in The Globe and Mail.
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