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external
external benefit
external-combustion engine
external constraint
external cost
external degree
external diseconomies of scale
external ear
external examination
external finance
external fixator
external respiration
external shock
externalism
externality
externalize
externe
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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
Encarta® World English Dictionary [North American Edition] © & (P)2009 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved. Developed for Microsoft by Bloomsbury Publishing Plc.
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