transitive verb extenuated, extenuating
- Archaic to make thin or lean
- Now Rare to diminish or weaken
- to lessen or seem to lessen the seriousness of (an offense, guilt, etc.) by giving excuses or serving as an excuse: extenuating circumstances
- Archaic to underrate; underestimate
- Obsolete to belittle or disparage
Origin:
< L extenuatus, pp. of extenuare < ex-, out + tenuare, to make thin < tenuis, thin