extenuate

  1. Verb.  (transitive) To make thin or slender; to draw out so as to lessen the thickness.
  2. Verb.  (transitive) To lessen; to palliate; to lessen or weaken the force of; to diminish the conception of, as crime, guilt, faults, ills, accusations, etc.; -- opposed to aggravate.
  3. Verb.  (obsolete) To lower or degrade; to detract from.

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This entry was last updated on RefTopia from its source on 3/20/2012.