EXTENUATE


Meaning of EXTENUATE in English

— extenuating , adj. — extenuatingly , adv. — extenuative , adj. — extenuator , n.

/ik sten"yooh ayt'/ , v.t., extenuated, extenuating .

1. to represent (a fault, offense, etc.) as less serious: to extenuate a crime.

2. to serve to make (a fault, offense, etc.) seem less serious.

3. to underestimate, underrate, or make light of: Do not extenuate the difficulties we are in.

4. Archaic.

a. to make thin, lean, or emaciated.

b. to reduce the consistency or density of.

[ 1375-1425; late ME (adj.) extenuatus, ptp. of extenuare, equiv. to ex- EX- 1 + tenuare to make thin or small; see -ATE 1 ]

Random House Webster's Unabridged English dictionary.      Полный английский словарь Вебстер - Random House .