Definitions for extenuate
ɪkˈstɛn yuˌeɪtex·ten·u·ate

Princeton's WordNetRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. extenuate, palliate, mitigateverb

   lessen or to try to lessen the seriousness or extent of

   "The circumstances extenuate the crime"

WiktionaryRate this definition:3.0 / 1 vote

1. extenuateverb

   To make thin or slender; to draw out so as to lessen the thickness.

2. extenuateverb

   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. extenuateverb

   To lower or degrade; to detract from.

4. Etymology: From extenuatus, past participle of extenuare from ex + tenuare, from tenuis.

Samuel Johnson's DictionaryRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. To EXTENUATEverb

   Etymology: extenuo, Latin.

   1. To lessen; to make small or slender in bulk.

   His body behind his head becomes broad, from whence it is again extenuated all the way to the tail. Nehemiah Grew, Musæum.

   2. To lessen; to diminish in any quality.

   To persist
   In doing wrong, extenuates not wrong,
   But makes it much more heavy. William Shakespeare, Troilus and Cressida.

   But fortune there extenuates the crime;
   What’s vice in me, is only mirth in him. John Dryden, Juvenal.

   3. To lessen; to degrade; to diminish in honour.

   Righteous are thy decrees on all thy works;
   Who can extenuate thee? John Milton, Paradise Lost, b. x.

   4. To lessen in representation; to palliate. Opposite to aggravate.

   When you shall these unlucky deeds relate,
   Speak of me, as I am: nothing extenuate,
   Nor set down aught in malice. William Shakespeare, Othello.

   Upon his examination he denied little of that wherewith he was charged, nor endeavoured much to excuse or extenuate his fault; so that, not very wisely thinking to make his offence less by confession, he made it enough for condemnation. Francis Bacon.

   Yet hear me, Sampson, not that I endeavour
   To lessen or extenuate my offence. John Milton, Agonistes.

   5. To make lean.

ChatGPTRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. extenuate

   Extenuate is a verb that typically means to lessen or to try to lessen the seriousness or extent of something, often by providing partial excuses or justification. It can also refer to making an offense or guilt seem less severe or more forgivable.

Webster DictionaryRate this definition:5.0 / 2 votes

1. Extenuateverb

   to make thin or slender; to draw out so as to lessen the thickness

2. Extenuateverb

   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. Extenuateverb

   to lower or degrade; to detract from

4. Extenuateverb

   to become thinner; to make excuses; to advance palliating considerations

5. Extenuateadjective

   thin; slender

6. Etymology: [L. extenuatus, p. p.]

Chambers 20th Century DictionaryRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. Extenuate

   eks-ten′ū-āt, v.t. to lessen: to underrate: to weaken the force of: to palliate.—p.adj. Exten′uating, palliating.—adv. Exten′uatingly.—n. Extenuā′tion, act of representing anything as less wrong or criminal than it is: palliation: mitigation.—adjs. Exten′uative, Exten′uatory, tending to extenuate: palliative.—n. Exten′uator. [L. extenuāre, -ātum—ex, inten., tenuis, thin.]

Editors ContributionRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. extenuate

   Maybe only fools look for extenuating circumstances.

   he was a sucker-so he was made a fool-and poor chap had to look for extenuating circumstances

   
   

   Submitted by Lighthouse21 on February 25, 2018  

EntomologyRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. Extenuate

   to make or to become weak, thin or slender.

Matched Categories

1. • Apologize
   • Law

How to pronounce extenuate?

1. Alex

   US English

   David

   US English

   Mark

   US English

   Daniel

   British

   Libby

   British

   Mia

   British

   Karen

   Australian

   Hayley

   Australian

   Natasha

   Australian

   Veena

   Indian

   Priya

   Indian

   Neerja

   Indian

   Zira

   US English

   Oliver

   British

   Wendy

   British

   Fred

   US English

   Tessa

   South African

How to say extenuate in sign language?

Numerology

1. Chaldean Numerology

   The numerical value of extenuate in Chaldean Numerology is: 4

2. Pythagorean Numerology

   The numerical value of extenuate in Pythagorean Numerology is: 7

Examples of extenuate in a Sentence

1. Fairfield Osborne:

   We do not live to extenuate the miseries of the past nor to accept as incurable those of the present.

Popularity rank by frequency of use

References

1. ^ Princeton's WordNet
   http://wordnetweb.princeton.edu/perl/webwn?s=extenuate
2. ^ Wiktionary
   https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Extenuate
3. ^ Samuel Johnson's Dictionary
   https://johnsonsdictionaryonline.com/views/search.php?term=extenuate
4. ^ ChatGPT
   https://chat.openai.com
5. ^ Webster Dictionary
   https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/extenuate
6. ^ Chambers 20th Century Dictionary
   https://www.gutenberg.org/files/37683/37683-h/37683-h.htm#:~:text=extenuate
7. ^ Entomology
   https://www.gutenberg.org/files/22748/22748-h/22748-h.htm#:~:text=extenuate