Crossword Genius

Light with a tendency to grow less? (5)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

taper

I'm a little stuck... Click here to teach me more about this clue!

'light' is the definition.
(taper is a kind of light)

'a tendency to grow less?' is the wordplay.
I cannot really understand how this works, but
'a' could be 'per' (eg 'one a day' means 'one per day') and 'per' is located in the answer.
The remaining letters 'ta' is a valid word which might be clued in a way I don't understand.
This explanation may well be incorrect...

'with' acts as a link.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for taper that I've seen before include "Spill - become narrower towards one end" , "Get narrower towards end" , "recording artist" , "Waxed spill" , "Thin wick" .)

I've seen this clue in The Globe and Mail.
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