Fortitude may be needed in readiness for real snow and ice (4)
'ice' is the definition.
Both the answer and definition are singular nouns.
Maybe you can see an association between them that I can't see?
'fortitude may be needed in readiness for real snow' is the wordplay.
I cannot really see how this works, but
'fortitude' could be 'grit' (grit is a kind of fortitude) and 'grit' is found in the answer.
'real' could be 'true' ('true' can be similar in meaning to 'real') and 'true' is present in the answer.
This accounts for all the letters.
This may be the basis of clue (or it may be nonsense).
'and' is the link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for true grit that I've seen before include "Western" , "vehicle for John Wayne" , "movie" , "Genuine courage (John Wayne's)" , "Film" .)
'fortitude' is the definition.
The definition and answer can be both human attributes as well as being singular nouns.
Perhaps they are linked in a way I don't understand?
I don't understand how the rest of the clue works.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for true that I've seen before include "Accurate, factual" , "A false alternative?" , "Rightly so called" , "Real; accurate" , "Dependable -- loyal" .)