extenuate : Dictionary / Wörterbuch (BEOLINGUS, TU Chemnitz)

English Dictionary: extenuate	by the DICT Development Group
4 results for extenuate
From WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006) [wn]:
extenuate v lessen or to try to lessen the seriousness or extent of; "The circumstances extenuate the crime" Synonym(s): extenuate, palliate, mitigate
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]:
Extenuate \Exten"uate\, v. i. To become thinner; to make excuses; to advance palliating considerations. --Burke.
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]:
Extenuate \Exten"uate\, a. [L. extenuatus, p. p.] Thin; slender. [Obs.] --Huloet.
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]:
Extenuate \Exten"uate\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Extenuated}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Extenuating}.] [L. extenuatus, p. p. of extenuare to make thin, loosen, weaken; ex out + tenuare to make thin, tenuis thin. See {Tenuity}.] 1. To make thin or slender; to draw out so as to lessen the thickness. His body behind the head becomes broad, from whence it is again extenuated all the way to the tail. --Grew. 2. To lessen; to palliate; to lessen or weaken the force of; to diminish the conception of, as crime, guilt, faults, ills, accusations, etc.; -- opposed to aggravate. But fortune there extenuates the crime. --Dryden. Let us extenuate, conceal, adorn the unpleasing reality. --I. Taylor. 3. To lower or degrade; to detract from. [Obs.] Who can extenuate thee? --Milton. Syn: To palliate; to mitigate. See {Palliate}.