extenuate definition - Dictionary

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extenuating circumstances

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extenuate

ex·ten·u·ate [ ik sténnyoo àyt ] (past and past participle ex·ten·u·at·ed, present participle ex·ten·u·at·ing, 3rd person present singular ex·ten·u·ates)

transitive verb

Definition:

diminish the seriousness of: to make a mistake or wrongdoing seem less serious than it first appeared, e.g. by providing a mitigating excuse for it

[Early 16th century. < Latin extenuat-, past participle of extenuare "thin out" < tenuis "thin"]

ex·ten·u·at·ing adjective

ex·ten·u·at·ing·ly adverb

ex·ten·u·a·tion [ ik stènnyoo áysh'n ] noun

ex·ten·u·a·tive adjective

ex·ten·u·a·tor [ ik sténnyoo àytər ] noun

ex·ten·u·a·to·ry [ ik sténnyoo ə tàwree ] adjective

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