Musical test for an extraterrestrial (5)
I believe the answer is:
motet
'musical' is the definition.
Both the definition and answer are singular nouns.
Perhaps you can see a link between them that I don't see?
'test for an extraterrestrial' is the wordplay.
'test' becomes 'MOT' (MOT test).
'for' is a charade indicator (letters next to each other).
'an extraterrestrial' becomes 'et' (I've seen this in other clues).
'mot'+'et'='MOTET'
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for motet that I've seen before include "Something to sing" , "Church composition - totem (anag)" , "Short piece of church choral music" , "Polyphonic choral liturgical piece" , "Short sacred choral piece" .)