Yesteryear

YORE

Think of an old-fashioned word for a time long past, often used in tales.

"Yesteryear" is a poetic or old-fashioned term for the distant past, and "yore" is a shorter, archaic word meaning the same thing. The clue hints at the answer by using a synonym that fits the crossword's concise style. Think of phrases like "days of yore" to connect the two words. It’s a straightforward synonym swap with no hidden wordplay.