Definify.com
Webster 1913 Edition
Extenuate
Ex-ten′u-ate
,Verb.
T.
[
imp. & p. p.
Extenuated
; p. pr. & vb. n.
Extenuating
.] [L.
extenuatus
, p. p. of extenuare
to make thin, loosen, weaken; ex
out + tenuare
to make thin, tenuis
thin. See Tenuity
.] 1.
To make thin or slender; to draw out so as to lessen the thickness.
His body behind the head becomes broad, from whence it is again
extenuated
all the way to the tail. Grew.
2.
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
. But fortune there
extenuates
the crime. Dryden.
Let us
extenuate
, conceal, adorn the unpleasing reality. I. Taylor.
Ex-ten′u-ate
,Verb.
I.
To become thinner; to make excuses; to advance palliating considerations.
Burke.
Ex-ten′u-ate
,Adj.
[L.
extenuatus
, p. p.] Thin; slender.
[Obs.]
Huloet.
Webster 1828 Edition
Extenuate
EXTEN'UATE
,Verb.
T.
1.
To make thin, lean or slender. Sickness extenuates the body.2.
To lessen; to diminish; as a crime or guilt.But fortune there extenuates the crime.
3.
To lessen in representation; to palliate; opposed to aggravate.4.
To lessen or diminish in honor. [Little used.]5.
To make thin or rare; opposed to condense. [Little used.]EXTEN'UATE
,Adj.