transitive verb extenuated -·at′ed, extenuating -·at′·ing

1. Archaic to make thin or lean
2. Now Rare to diminish or weaken
3. to lessen or seem to lessen the seriousness of (an offense, guilt, etc.) by giving excuses or serving as an excuse extenuating circumstances
4. Archaic to underrate; underestimate
5. Obsolete to belittle or disparage

Etymology: < L extenuatus, pp. of extenuare < ex-, out + tenuare, to make thin < tenuis, thin