Is less harsh when, once again, money gets sent astray (7)

I believe the answer is:

relents

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'is less harsh when' is the definition.
I can't tell whether this definition defines the answer.

'again money gets sent astray' is the wordplay.
'again' becomes 're' (prefix meaning 'again').
'money' becomes 'l' (L can mean 'pounds').
'gets' is an insertion indicator.
'astray' indicates an anagram.
'sent' is an anagram of 'ents'.
'l' placed within 'ents' is 'lents'.
're'+'lents'='RELENTS'

'once' is the link.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for relents that I've seen before include "Shows mercy" , "Abates, softens" , "Eases off" , "Gives way" , "Becomes less severe and more lenient" .)

I've seen this clue in the Evening Standard.

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