Crossword Genius

What possibly inspires Conservative to pay attention (5)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

watch

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'pay attention' is the definition.
The definition and answer can be both to do with perception as well as being verbs in their base form.
Maybe you can see a link between them that I don't see?

'what possibly inspires conservative' is the wordplay.
'possibly' is an anagram indicator.
'inspires' indicates putting letters inside (inspire means to breathe in).
'conservative' becomes 'C' (UK political abbreviation).
'what' anagrammed gives 'wath'.
'wath' enclosing 'c' is 'WATCH'.

'to' is the link.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for watch that I've seen before include "Look at attentively" , "See 21" , "Keep an eye on - timepiece" , "Keep under observation" , "period of duty" .)

I've seen this clue in The Times.
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