Extenuated

1 definition found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Extenuate \Ex*ten"u*ate\, 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.


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              His body behind the head becomes broad, from whence
              it is again extenuated all the way to the tail.
                                                    --Grew.
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     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}.
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              But fortune there extenuates the crime. --Dryden.
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              Let us extenuate, conceal, adorn the unpleasing
              reality.                              --I. Taylor.
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     3. To lower or degrade; to detract from. [Obs.]
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              Who can extenuate thee?               --Milton.
  
     Syn: To palliate; to mitigate. See {Palliate}.
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