What does the cryptic crossword clue "The artist coming first is blooming early (5)" mean?

The definition is "early". The wordplay uses a charade (building blocks). RA (synonym="artist") + THE (synonym="THE") = RATHE; definition: "early" The answer is RATHE.

The artist coming first is blooming early (5)

Guardian Cryptic #29564 | 4 Down | 2024-12-12 flower

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