Extenuating

Extenuating
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. [1913 Webster]

His body behind the head becomes broad, from whence it is again extenuated all the way to the tail. --Grew. [1913 Webster]

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}. [1913 Webster]

But fortune there extenuates the crime. --Dryden. [1913 Webster]

Let us extenuate, conceal, adorn the unpleasing reality. --I. Taylor. [1913 Webster]

3. To lower or degrade; to detract from. [Obs.] [1913 Webster]

Who can extenuate thee? --Milton.

Syn: To palliate; to mitigate. See {Palliate}. [1913 Webster]


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.

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  • extenuating — adj. serving or tending to reduce the severity of guilt or blameworthiness; as, extenuating circumstances. Syn: mitigating. [WordNet 1.5] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • extenuating — index mitigating, palliative (excusing) Burton s Legal Thesaurus. William C. Burton. 2006 …   Law dictionary

  • extenuating — [adj] serving as an excuse condoning, diminishing, justifying, lessening, mitigating, moderating, palliating, qualifying, reducing, sanitizing, softening, varnishing, whitewashing*; concept 537 …   New thesaurus

  • extenuating — [[t]ɪkste̱njueɪtɪŋ[/t]] ADJ: usu ADJ n If you say that there are extenuating circumstances for a bad situation or wrong action, you mean that there are reasons or factors which partly excuse it. [FORMAL] The defendants decide to admit their guilt …   English dictionary

  • extenuating — adj. Extenuating is used with these nouns: ↑circumstance …   Collocations dictionary

  • extenuating — ex|ten|u|at|ing [ıkˈstenjuˌeıtıŋ] adj [Date: 1500 1600; : Latin; Origin: , past participle of extenuare, from tenuis thin ] extenuating circumstances/factors etc formal facts or reasons which make you feel that it was reasonable for someone to… …   Dictionary of contemporary English

  • extenuating — adjective a just decision must allow for extenuating circumstances Syn: mitigating, excusing, exonerative, palliative, justifying, justificatory, vindicating; formal exculpatory …   Thesaurus of popular words

  • extenuating — adjective partially excusing or justifying extenuating circumstances • Similar to: ↑exculpatory …   Useful english dictionary

  • extenuating circumstances — noun alleviating circumstances, consideration, exception, extenuation, mitigating circumstances, mitigation, palliation, palliative circumstances, partial excuse, qualification, qualifying reasons, softening circumstances Burton s Legal Thesaurus …   Law dictionary

  • extenuating circumstance — or mitigating circumstance In law, circumstance that diminishes the culpability of one who has committed a criminal offense. In many Anglo American legal systems, provocation of the accused by the victim can reduce a charge of first degree murder …   Universalium

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