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% replaces any number of letters (la% - lake, lamp)_ replaces one letter (ca_ - car, cat)

Crossword clues for Something essential:

NEED: Something essential
TILDE: Something essential to São Paulo
SINEQUANON: Something essential
SINE: ___ qua non (something essential).
MUST: Something essential.
NAMEOFTHEGAME: Something's essential aspect ... or what's spelled out by letters in this puzzle's eight "cups"
TAO: The art of doing something in harmony with its essential nature