The couple smoothed things out (6)

I believe the answer is:

evened

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'smoothed things out' is the definition.
The answer and definition can be both to do with contact as well as being past participle verbs.
Maybe they are linked in a way I don't understand?

I don't understand the remainder of the clue.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for evened that I've seen before include "Levelled" , "Made level" , "Made smooth or equalised" , "Made smooth and regular" .)

I've seen this clue in the Evening Standard.

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