ex·ten·u·ate /ɪkˈstɛnjəˌwet/
(vt.)減輕,使人原諒
Ex·ten·u·ate, v. i. To become thinner; to make excuses; to advance palliating considerations.
Ex·ten·u·ate a. Thin; slender. [Obs.]
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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.
extenuate
v : lessen or to try to lessen the seriousness or extent of;
"The circumstances extenuate the crime" [syn: palliate,
mitigate]