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| the formal statement by a judge or court of the reasoning and the principles of law used in reaching a decision of a case |
| nullification or withdrawal, especially of an offer to contract |
extenuating circumstances
A situation or condition that provides an excuse for an action, as in Although Nancy missed three crucial rehearsals, there were extenuating circumstances, so she was not dismissed. This expression was originally legal terminology, denoting circumstances that partly excuse a crime and therefore call for less punishment or damages. [c. 1600]