Crossword Genius

Little bit of time before event (5)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

trace

'little bit' is the definition.
(a trace is a small amount)

'time before event' is the wordplay.
'time' becomes 't' (abbreviation).
'before' says to put letters next to each other.
'event' becomes 'race' (race is a kind of event).
't'+'race'='TRACE'

'of' acts as a link.

(Other definitions for trace that I've seen before include "Pinch" , "Make a copy using transparent paper" , "a piece of harness" , "Hunt down" , "Small quantity; find" .)

I've seen this clue in The Times.
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