Whenever I spot the clue 'tithe' in a puzzle, I treat it like a friendly little trapdoor — it can mean a few different things depending on the setter's mood. Mostly it points to the straightforward idea of 'a tenth' or 'tenth part', so you'll often see solutions like 'tenth' (five letters) or expressions meaning ten percent. As a solver I always check whether the clue is being used as a noun (the thing you give) or a verb (to give) because that changes likely fills: nouns lean toward 'alms', 'due', or 'church tax'; verbs push toward 'pay', 'give', or 'render'.
In cryptic puzzles the setter might play with numbers and Roman numerals, so 'tithe' could be clued via 'X' (ten) or by wordplay that yields 'one in ten' or 'one-tenth'. American-style quick crosswords tend to favor direct synonyms like 'tax' or 'levy' in shorter slots, while British puzzles might use 'alms' or 'tenth'. I love that little mental pivot when the crossings reveal which sense is intended — it feels like unlocking a tiny historical secret about how languages handle obligations.