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5 definitions found

From: DICT.TW English-Chinese Dictionary 英漢字典

 ex·ten·u·ate /ɪkˈstɛnjəˌwet/
 (vt.)減輕,使人原諒

From: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

 Ex·ten·u·ate, v. i. To become thinner; to make excuses; to advance palliating considerations.

From: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

 Ex·ten·u·ate a.  Thin; slender. [Obs.]
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From: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

 Ex·ten·u·ate v. t. [imp. & p. p. Extenuated p. pr. & vb. n. Extenuating ]
 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.

From: WordNet (r) 2.0

 extenuate
      v : lessen or to try to lessen the seriousness or extent of;
          "The circumstances extenuate the crime" [syn: palliate,
           mitigate]