Definition of Extenuate

1. Verb. Lessen or to try to lessen the seriousness or extent of. "The circumstances extenuate the crime"


Definition of Extenuate

1. v. t. To make thin or slender; to draw out so as to lessen the thickness.

2. v. i. To become thinner; to make excuses; to advance palliating considerations.

3. a. Thin; slender.

Definition of Extenuate

1. Verb. (transitive) To make thin or slender; to draw out so as to lessen the thickness. ¹

2. Verb. (transitive) 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. ¹

3. Verb. (obsolete) To lower or degrade; to detract from. ¹

¹ Source: wiktionary.com

Definition of Extenuate

1. [v -ATED, -ATING, -ATES]

Lexicographical Neighbors of Extenuate

extensor hallucis brevis
extensor hallucis longus
extensor indicis
extensor indicis proprius
extensor muscle
extensor muscle of fingers
extensor muscle of little finger
extensor pollicis brevis
extensor pollicis longus
extensor retinaculum
extensors
extensure
extent
extention
extents
extenuate (current term)
extenuated
extenuates
extenuating
extenuating circumstance
extenuating circumstances
extenuatingly
extenuation
extenuations
extenuator
extenuators
extenuatory
exterior
exterior-angle
exterior angle

Literary usage of Extenuate

Below you will find example usage of this term as found in modern and/or classical literature:

1. English Synonyms Explained, in Alphabetical Order: With Copious by George Crabb (1818)
"extenuate, from the Latin tenuta thin, small, signifies literally to make small. ... To extenuate is rather the effect of circumstances : to palliate is the ..."

2. Readings in European History: A Collection of Extracts from the Sources by James Harvey Robinson (1906)
"In the third issue (December 15, 1793) he seeks to extenuate the severities ... Camille Desmoulins seeks to extenuate the Reign of Terror by quotations from ..."

3. Readings in Modern European History: A Collection of Extracts from the by James Harvey Robinson, Charles Austin Beard (1908)
"In the third issue (December 15,1793) he seeks to extenuate the severities of the Reign of Terror by showing, by skillfully adapted quotations from Tacitus, ..."

4. History of the Boston Massacre, March 5, 1770: Consisting of the Narrative by Frederic Kidder, John Adams (1870)
"... provocations as the law allows to mitigate or extenuate the guilt of killing where it is not justifiable or excusable. An assault and battery committed ..."

5. A Digest of the Criminal Law (crimes and Punishments) by James Fitzjames Stephen (1883)
"B drives off and pursues A. A in self-defence kills B. This is murder in A. ARTICLE 225. WHEN PROVOCATION DOES NOT extenuate HOMICIDE. ..."

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