Cryptic crossword clue
Getting even money at first contributes to calm 9

The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 9 letter word SMOOTHING

I've seen this crossword clue in The Times
S
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Buddy explains!

The straight part
We know that "Getting even" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case getting even = smoothing.
The cryptic/wordplay part
In cryptic crossword there's often an wordplay/cryptic part as well.
This part involves a more complex hint, such as an anagram, homophone, hidden word, etc.
Sadly, We don't have an explanation for this specific crossword clue yet.

What does SMOOTHING mean?

SMOOTHING verb
  1. To make smooth or even.
  2. To make straightforward or easy.
  3. To calm or palliate.
  4. (image processing, digital audio) To capture important patterns in the data, while leaving out noise.
  5. To stroke; especially to stroke an animal's fur.
SMOOTHING noun
  1. The act by which something is made smooth.
  2. Monophthongization.

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