[ 'mɪtɪgeɪt ]
■ verb [often as adjective mitigating ] make less severe, serious, or painful.
Derivatives
mitigable adjective
mitigation noun
mitigator noun
mitigatory adjective
Origin
ME: from L. mitigat- , mitigare 'soften, alleviate'.
Usage
The verbs ~ and militate are often confused. Mitigate means ‘make less severe’, as in drainage schemes have helped to ~ this problem , while militate is used with against to mean ‘be a powerful factor in preventing’, as in laws that militate against personal freedom .