extenuate
To make less dense, or thinnerTo make (something) less dense, or thinner; also, to lower the viscosity of (something).
» Those are extenuating circumstances.
Это смягчающие обстоятельства.
Meaning
7 senses(formal, obsolete, transitive)To make (something) less dense, or thinner; also, to lower the viscosity of (something).
(archaic, formal, obsolete, transitive)To make (someone or something) slender or thin; to emaciate, to waste.
(archaic, formal, obsolete, transitive)To underestimate or understate the importance of (something); to underrate.
To underestimate or understate the importance of (something); to underrate.
(archaic, formal, obsolete, specifically, transitive)To diminish or seek to diminish the extent or severity of (a crime, guilt, a mistake, or something else negative) by making apologies or excuses; to palliate.
to extenuate his faults to extenuate their crimes
(formal, obsolete, transitive)To beat or draw (a metal object, etc.) out so as to lessen the thickness.
(formal, obsolete, transitive)To reduce the quality or quantity of (something); to lessen or weaken the force of (something).
(formal, obsolete, transitive)To degrade (someone); to detract from (someone's qualities, reputation, etc.); to depreciate, to disparage.
- lessen or to try to lessen the seriousness or extent of
Examples
2 sentencesThose are extenuating circumstances.
ruЭто смягчающие обстоятельства.
Extenuating circumstances led the judge to pass a more lenient sentence.
Translations
2 languagesOrigin
From Latin extenuātus (“diminished, reduced, thinned”) (more at etymology 1), see -ate (veFrom Latin extenuātus (“diminished, reduced, thinned”) (more at etymology 1), see -ate (verb-forming suffix).
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Forms
extenuates, extenuating, extenuated, extenuated| Base form | extenuate · to extenuate |
|---|---|
| 3rd person singular | extenuates |
| Present participle | extenuating |
| Past simple | extenuated |
| Past participle | extenuated |
regular · Lesson
Synonyms
2 synonymsAntonyms
1 antonymsWord family
19 related wordsLessons for this word
3 lessons- A1Present simple — Because it is a verb
- A1Past simple, regular verbs — Because of its past form
- A2Present perfect: introduction — Because of its past participle