The paints set before us? (2,3,4)
I believe the answer is:
in the past
'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.
Want a hint initially instead of a full solution?
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