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The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 (gcide)

Alleviate \Al*le"vi*ate\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Alleviated}; p.
pr. & vb. n. {Alleviating}.] [LL. alleviare, fr. L. ad
levis light. See {Alegge}, {Levity}.]
1. To lighten or lessen the force or weight of. [Obs.]
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Should no others join capable to alleviate the
expense. --Evelyn.
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Those large bladders . . . conduce much to the
alleviating of the body [of flying birds]. --Ray.
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2. To lighten or lessen (physical or mental troubles); to
mitigate, or make easier to be endured; as, to alleviate
sorrow, pain, care, etc.; -- opposed to {aggravate}.
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The calamity of the want of the sense of hearing is
much alleviated by giving the use of letters. --Bp.
Horsley.
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3. To extenuate; to palliate. [R.]
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He alleviates his fault by an excuse. --Johnson.
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Syn: To lessen; diminish; soften; mitigate; assuage; abate;
relieve; nullify; allay.

Usage: To {Alleviate}, {Mitigate}, {Assuage}, {Allay}. These
words have in common the idea of relief from some
painful state; and being all figurative, they differ
in their application, according to the image under
which this idea is presented. Alleviate supposes a
load which is lightened or taken off; as, to alleviate
one's cares. Mitigate supposes something fierce which
is made mild; as, to mitigate one's anguish. Assuage
supposes something violent which is quieted; as, to
assuage one's sorrow. Allay supposes something
previously excited, but now brought down; as, to allay
one's suffering or one's thirst. To alleviate the
distresses of life; to mitigate the fierceness of
passion or the violence of grief; to assuage angry
feeling; to allay wounded sensibility.
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