Pronunciation: ' mi-t ə - ˌ g ā t
Function: transitive verb
Inflected Form: -gat · ed ; -gat · ing
Etymology: Middle English, from Latin mitigatus, past participle of mitigare to soften, from mitis soft + -igare (akin to Latin agere to drive); akin to Old Irish moíth soft ― more at AGENT
Date: 15th century
1 : to cause to become less harsh or hostile : MOLLIFY <aggressiveness may be mitigated or ⋯ channeled ― Ashley Montagu>
2 a : to make less severe or painful : ALLEVIATE b : EXTENUATE
synonyms see RELIEVE
– mit · i · ga · tion \ ˌ mi-t ə - ' g ā -sh ə n \ noun
– mit · i · ga · tive \ ' mi-t ə - ˌ g ā -tiv \ adjective
– mit · i · ga · tor \ - ˌ g ā -t ə r \ noun
– mit · i · ga · to · ry \ ' mi-ti-g ə - ˌ to ̇ r- ē \ adjective
usage Mitigate is sometimes used as an intransitive (followed by against ) where militate might be expected. Even though Faulkner used it <some intangible and invisible social force that mitigates against him ― William Faulkner> and one critic thinks it should be called an American idiom, it is usually considered a mistake.