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

Extenuate \Ex*ten"u*ate\, v. 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.
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His body behind the head becomes broad, from whence
it is again extenuated all the way to the tail.
--Grew.
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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}.
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But fortune there extenuates the crime. --Dryden.
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Let us extenuate, conceal, adorn the unpleasing
reality. --I. Taylor.
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3. To lower or degrade; to detract from. [Obs.]
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Who can extenuate thee? --Milton.

Syn: To palliate; to mitigate. See {Palliate}.
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Extenuate \Ex*ten"u*ate\, v. i.
To become thinner; to make excuses; to advance palliating
considerations. --Burke.
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Extenuate \Ex*ten"u*ate\, a. [L. extenuatus, p. p.]
Thin; slender. [Obs.] --Huloet.
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