Second time, condition's suitable for dominant element (5)
I believe the answer is:
motif
'element' is the definition.
(thesaurus)
'second time condition's' is the wordplay.
'second' becomes 'mo' (both are short periods of time).
'time' becomes 't' (abbreviation).
'condition' becomes 'if' (I've seen this in other clues).
'mo'+'t'+'if'='MOTIF'
'suitable for dominant' acts as a link.
This may not be right. Some or all of it may be part of another bit of the clue.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for motif that I've seen before include "Artistic theme, pattern" , "Recurring theme, especially in music" , "symbolic ornament" , "Recurring image in design" , "Recurrent theme in music..." .)