Currently reading this article, the last paragraph says,
Mr Grant said: “FRA & GER used to each work with the UK to create a balance v the other. Now they’ve only each other to get annoyed with. And other members are much warier of Franco-German dominance, without UK to temper FRA’s & GER’s influence.”
My dictionary gives the definitions,
transitive verb
1 a : to dilute, qualify, or soften (as something strong, harsh, or excessive) by the addition or influence of something else : make temperate : moderate, season
b : to make suitable for : adapt to : adjust, modify — usually used with to
c archaic : to mix (ingredients) in suitable proportions : prepare by combining : compound, blend
2 archaic a : to exercise control over : govern, restrain
b : to cause to be well disposed : mollify
3 : to bring (a substance or material) to a suitable state (as of consistency or workability) by mixing in or adding a usually liquid ingredient: such as
a (1) : to mix (clay) with water and knead to a uniform texture (2) : to add an aplastic material (as grog or sand) to (clay)
b : to mix oil with (colors) in making paint ready for use
c : to moisten (as sand for molding) to a proper consistency and stir thoroughly
d : to dampen or remove moisture from (grain) to secure the best grinding
e : to make (leather) uniformly moist and soft for further processing
4 a (1) : to soften (hardened steel or cast iron) by reheating at a temperature well below that from which previous quenching for hardening was done (2) : to harden and reheat (steel or cast iron) or to harden alone especially in oil — not used technically
b : to anneal or toughen (glass) by a process of gradually heating and cooling
5 : to make stronger and more resilient through hardship : toughen
6 a : to put in tune with : attune
b : to adjust the pitch of (a note, chord, instrument) to a temperament
Thank you in advance(m_m).