The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 8 letter word EARLIEST
I've seen this crossword clue in The Guardian
E
A
R
L
I
E
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T
More clues leading to the result EARLIEST
- Nobleman, originally Irish, is in Paris — first to arrive?
- Noble site bombed first
- Rise late, perhaps — or before all the others
- Most primitive ateliers badly built
- Noblemen on time, namely entering before everyone else?
- Even repair inventions on time, most in advance
- First: last of course is later, however
- First design of ateliers
- First Lord? That’s one way
- Most ancient tiles are in fragments
Buddy explains!
The straight part
We know that "before everyone else" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case before everyone else = earliest.The cryptic/wordplay part
In cryptic crossword there's often an wordplay/cryptic part as well.This part involves a more complex hint, such as an anagram, homophone, hidden word, etc.
Sadly, We don't have an explanation for this specific crossword clue yet.
What does EARLIEST mean?
EARLIEST adjective- At a time in advance of the usual or expected event.
- Arriving a time before expected; sooner than on time.
- Near the start or beginning.
- Having begun to occur; in its early stages.
- Of a star or class of stars, hotter than the sun.
- At a time before expected; sooner than usual.
- Soon; in good time; seasonably.