Crossword Genius

A temptation said to diminish (5)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

abate

'diminish' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)

'a temptation said' is the wordplay.
'temptation' becomes 'bait' (bait is a kind of temptation).
'said' indicates a 'sounds like' (homophone) clue.
'bait' is a homophone of 'bate'.
'a'+'bate'='ABATE'

'to' is the link.

(Other definitions for abate that I've seen before include "(Flood) recede" , "Subside, grow less" , "Subside like storm" , "Reduce" , "Put an end to" .)

I've seen this clue in The Independent.
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