Difficulty: Medium

Here are some definitions for a few words. The number of letters in each word is given in parentheses. Each definition is followed by a clue to a split-apart version of the answer. For “Pondering (8) … Monarch after dieting,” the answer would be THINKING (with the clue leading you to the split-apart version, “thin king”).

• Certain evening (9) … Tiny chess piece

• Deed subjects (10) … Cravats that are suitable

• Ne'er-do-well (11) … Onion that performs hip-hop music

• Hawaiian person, for instance (8) … Confession of a scandalmonger

• Buddhist belief (13) … Flower adorning a horse's bridle