Crossword Genius

Country-lover having little time after half past three (7)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

patriot

'country-lover' is the definition.
(someone who loves their country)

'little time after half past three' is the wordplay.
'little time' becomes 't' (abbreviation for time).
'after' means one lot of letters go next to another.
'half' suggests halving the letters.
'three' becomes 'trio' (synonyms).
'past' halved is 'pa'.
'pa'+'trio'='patrio'
't' after 'patrio' is 'PATRIOT'.

'having' is the link.

(Other definitions for patriot that I've seen before include "One with a strong love of country" , "One loving their country" , "Nationalist" , "Country-lover" , "Defender of country" .)

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