monday crusader

[swehttam]

2a Absence of people outside for example
8 letters

[ddon]

negation
nation outside eg

[swehttam]

thank you ddon

[Quizmonster]

I wonder whether it might not be 'negative' - used as a noun, obviously, as in "You can't prove a negative." The word 'native' means '>u>of people'.
Just a thought!

[puzzlesRus]

Qm - But native is singular wheras nation suits the word people (mass noun)

[Quizmonster]

Dear Puzzles, 'native' is also an adjective, so the question of singular/plural doesn't apply. In any case, 'people' can also be singular, as in sentences such as "The French are a peculiar people." If you can put 'a' in front of a word, it's singular in that situation.

[puzzlesRus]

But I don't see how you could class the word 'people' as an adjective

[Quizmonster]

'People' standing alone can, of course, be an adjective in such phrases as 'people power', but I did not even remotely suggest that 'people' in the present circumstances was an adjective.
Here, for the last time, is what I meant...a) 'of people' is an adjectival phrase and it might be replaced by the single word 'native'. b) 'for example' is abbreviated as 'eg'. c) put the former 'outside' the latter and you get 'negative'.
'Negative' may also be used as a noun as shown in the following dialogue...
A. Is there any radiation reading, sergeant?
B. No, sir, that's a negative!
He means that there is an 'absence' of any such reading.

All the clue's elements are met. QED!
(I did say it was (quote) "Just a thought.") End of story.