v.tr. make milder or less intense or severe; moderate (your offer certainly mitigated their hostility).
Usage:
Often confused with militate.
Phrases and idioms:
mitigating circumstances Law circumstances permitting greater leniency.
Derivatives:
mitigable adj. mitigation n. mitigator n. mitigatory adj.
Etymology: ME f. L mitigare mitigat- f. mitis mild