Moderates final section around enclosure’s borders (9)

I believe the answer is:

palliates

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'moderates' is the definition.
The answer and definition can be both to do with communicating as well as being verbs in their -s form.
Perhaps they are linked in a way I don't understand?

'final section around enclosure's borders' is the wordplay.
'final' becomes 'pallia' (I am not sure about this - if you are sure you should give a lot more credence to this answer).
'around' means to look at the middle letters.
'enclosure's' becomes 'enc's' (abbreviation as in letters).
'borders' suggests removing the centre (only the edge or border letters remain).
The middle of 'section' is 't'.
'encs' with its centre taken out is 'es'.
'pallia'+'t'+'es'='PALLIATES'

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I've seen this clue in The Times.

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