The Clue
Preparatory times (4 letter answer)
The Answer
EVES
Tags
Notes
The answer EVES is seen frequently, appearing about once every 110 puzzles.
Related Clues
12/24 and 12/31
Anticipatory times
Arden and Merriam
Days before
"___ Diary": Twain
Holiday cusps
Holiday times
Impending times
Lead-in periods
Miss Arden et al.
Morns' counterparts
Night times
Nights before
Nights, in classifieds
Party times
Portentous nights
Prefeast hours
Times of anticipation
Times before
Times to party
Times to revel
Twain's "___ Diary"
Dec. 24 and 31
December 24 and 31
First mother's namesakes
Nights before holidays
Times before holidays
Times like Halloween
After-work times, in classifieds
Dec. 24 and 31, e.g.
Abbr. after some telephone numbers
Times to call, in some want ads
When to call, in some want ads
Definition
EVE as a noun:
1. (Old Testament) Adam's wife in Judeo-Christian mythology: the first woman and mother of the human race; God created Eve from Adam's rib and placed Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden
2. the day before; "he always arrives on the eve of her departure"
3. the period immediately before something; "on the eve of the French Revolution"
4. (evening, eve, even, eventide) = the latter part of the day (the period of decreasing daylight from late afternoon until nightfall); "he enjoyed the evening light across the lake"