Old Guardian Puzzle

[lapwing]

We took some on holiday and there was just one we couldn't finish. Any help please?
Rum dream dissipating over time(8) -e-e-a--
Knowing about the market, showing quick-wittedness(7) s-----y
Old chemist offering something to put on foot(4) -o--
Person quietly pretentious(5) p---y
Writer's hard English(5) -t---e (is this Sterne?)

Thank you

[bibblebub]

1) demerara = anagram of 'dream' outside of 'era

[Canary42]

Party (p - arty)

Yes to Sterne

[bibblebub]

2) smartly = 'sly' outside of 'mart'

[roslyn251254]

1 demerara? anagram of dream + era ??

[Canary42]

S mart ly

[bibblebub]

3) (Jesse) BOOT

[lapwing]

Thank you - that's great. I didn't know demerara was rum - thought it was sugar. Smartly is annoying as it's an adjective and the definition word (quick-wittedness) was a noun.

Good thing there are clever people like you lot out there :o)

[sedge47]

The definition is not "quick-wittedness" but "showing quick-wittedness".

[bibblebub]

'showing quick-wittedness' can indicate the adverbial form