Rte Xmas

[scooke]

19d may be a close shave for shepherds to pull off(5)?h?a?
4d...and the Latin will have the endof it .in short(3)?t?

[cashier]

19 Shear

[elliemay1]

etc??

[scooke]

Thank u all .now finished

[Captain2]

4d starts with '....' so presumaly follows on from the preceding clue (3d) to which the answer is 'time', so could 4d be ETA (estimated time of arrival, in short)?

[fuzzy-brain]

Captain2, is the answer to 3d not 'Wise'? How do you get 'Time'?

[Captain2]

fuzzy, I don't take the magazine or do the crossword, but found 'an answer' to 31/3d as Least Time.
If you are saying the answer is Least Wise, then I withdraw my suggestion. :))

[shaymus1]

19 shear.
4 etc

[fuzzy-brain]

You may well be correct, Captain2. The relevant clue reads: "Only the bronze-medallist of the magi, maybe. At any rate, that's the clue!" Perhaps the words "at any rate" could indicate that the answer is Least Time and not Least Wise. Thank you for your contribution.

[cashier]

Leastwise means at any rate. Also the least wise of the Magi.

[bobbinwales]

Must be least wise for wise men. Means at any rate or anyway.

[Captain2]

Fuzzy, no I think my 'other source' is incorrect and 'least wise' makes more sense, ie the bronze award in the 3 magii would make him 'the least wise' and 'least wise' would correlate to 'at any rate.'

However, having said all that isn't it 'leastwise' ie one word?

[fuzzy-brain]

Thank you both, cashier and bobbinwales for agreeing with my answer of Least Wise. I hope it proves to be correct.

[fuzzy-brain]

Yes, Captain2, but it is the RTE Guide crossword … and anything is possible there! The setter split the answer into 2 words 5,4.