extenuator


ex·ten·u·ate

E0296000 (ĭk-stĕn′yo͞o-āt′)tr.v. ex·ten·u·at·ed, ex·ten·u·at·ing, ex·ten·u·ates 1. To lessen or appear to lessen the seriousness or extent of (an offense, for example), especially by providing partial excuses: extenuated his crime as part of his testimony.2. Archaic a. To make thin or emaciated.b. To mitigate or lessen.c. To belittle; disparage.
[Latin extenuāre, extenuāt- : ex-, ex- + tenuāre, to make thin (from tenuis, thin; see ten- in Indo-European roots).]
ex·ten′u·a′tive adj. & n.ex·ten′u·a′tor n.ex·ten′u·a·to′ry (-ə-tôr′ē) adj.