yuˌeɪt verb (used with object), ex·ten·u·at·ed, ex·ten·u·at·ing.
1.
to represent (a fault, offense, etc.) as less serious: to extenuate a crime.
2.
to serve to make (a fault, offense, etc.) seem less serious.
3.
to underestimate, underrate, or make light of: Do not extenuate the difficulties we are in.
4.
Archaic.
a.
to make thin, lean, or emaciated.
b.
to reduce the consistency or density of.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
Cite This Source
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
Cite This Source
|
Link To extenuator
00:10
Extenuator
is always a great word to know.
So is flibbertigibbet. Does it mean:
| a children's mummer's parade, as on the Fourth of July, with prizes for the best costumes. |
| a chattering or flighty, light-headed person. |
Collins
World English Dictionary
extenuate (ɪkˈstɛnjʊˌeɪt) ![[Click for IPA pronunciation guide]](http://static.sfdict.com/dictstatic/g/d/dictionary_questionbutton_default.gif) | |
| —vb | |
| 1. | to represent (an offence, a fault, etc) as being less serious than it appears, as by showing mitigating circumstances |
| 2. | to cause to be or appear less serious; mitigate |
| 3. | to underestimate or make light of |
| 4. | archaic |
| a. to emaciate or weaken | |
| b. to dilute or thin out | |
| [C16: from Latin extenuāre to make thin, from tenuis thin, frail] | |
| ex'tenuating | |
| —adj | |
| extenu'ation | |
| —n | |
| ex'tenuator | |
| —n | |
| ex'tenuatory | |
| —adj | |
| extenuate (ɪkˈstɛnjʊˌeɪt) | |
| —vb | |
| 1. | to represent (an offence, a fault, etc) as being less serious than it appears, as by showing mitigating circumstances |
| 2. | to cause to be or appear less serious; mitigate |
| 3. | to underestimate or make light of |
| 4. | archaic |
| a. to emaciate or weaken | |
| b. to dilute or thin out | |
| [C16: from Latin extenuāre to make thin, from tenuis thin, frail] | |
| ex'tenuating | |
| —adj | |
| extenu'ation | |
| —n | |
| ex'tenuator | |
| —n | |
| ex'tenuatory | |
| —adj | |
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
Cite This Source
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
Cite This Source
Etymonline
Word Origin & History
extenuate
1520s, from L. extenuat-, pp. stem of extenuare "lessen," from ex- "out" + tenuare "make thin," from tenuis "thin" (see tenet). Related: Extenuated; extenuating; extenuation.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
Cite This Source
Cite This Source
Nearby Words
Copyright © 2013 Dictionary.com, LLC. All rights reserved.
