ALLEVIATE


Meaning of ALLEVIATE in English

əˈlēvēˌāt also aˈ-; usu -ād.+V transitive verb

( -ed/-ing/-s )

Etymology: Late Latin alleviatus, past participle of alleviare to lighten, relieve, from Latin ad- + levis light — more at light

1. : lighten , lessen : relieve , moderate : as

a. : to make easier to be endured (as physical or mental suffering)

does not cure but alleviates the disease

a lotion for alleviating the itching of poison ivy

little can be done for the sufferer beyond alleviating his agony — V.G.Heiser

helped slightly to alleviate his sorrow

b. : to remove or correct in part (as a troublesome condition or state of mind)

measures for alleviating the critical labor shortage

could alleviate the causes of conflicts among nations — Vera M. Dean

efforts which do nothing to alleviate that hate — New Republic

— opposed to aggravate

how these problems are aggravated or alleviated by advances in technical knowledge — Clyde Kennedy

2. archaic : extenuate

alleviates his fault by an excuse — Samuel Johnson

Synonyms: see relieve

Webster's New International English Dictionary.      Новый международный словарь английского языка Webster.