[pal.li.ate] vt -at.ed ; -at.ing [ME, fr. LL palliatus, pp. of palliare to cloak, conceal, fr. L pallium cloak] (15c) 1: to reduce the violence of (a disease): abate
2: to cover by excuses and apologies
3: to moderate the intensity of "trying to ~ the boredom" -- pal.li.a.tion n -- pal.li.a.tor n