Temper succeeded time after time (6)
I believe the answer is:
soften
'temper' is the definition.
(I've seen this in another clue)
'succeeded time after time' is the wordplay.
'succeeded' becomes 's' (genealogical abbreviation).
'time after time' becomes 'often' (I've seen this in another clue).
's'+'often'='SOFTEN'
(Other definitions for soften that I've seen before include "Yield" , "Tone down" , "Make more plastic" , "Become gentler" , "Appease" .)