| Motives, explanations |
REASONS |
| Nearest the beginning in time |
EARLIEST |
| Notion, thought |
IDEA |
| Orange edible root |
CARROT |
| Positions or points in a process |
STAGES |
| Refined, not tawdry |
TASTEFUL |
| Sahara and Gobi |
DESERTS |
| Seldom |
RARELY |
| Severe or trying experience |
ORDEAL |
| Spice in con man, strangely |
CINNAMON |
| Standards of perfection |
IDEALS |
| Supply water to land to help growth |
IRRIGATE |
| Temple of all the gods in ancient Greece |
PANTHEON |
| The flower has a gold rim, oddly |
MARIGOLD |
| The trachea |
WINDPIPE |
| Wheel-hoop |
TYRE |
