mitigate (2009-05-12)

Part of Speech: verb

Pronunciation: ['mi-tê-geyt]

Definition: Reduce the severity of something, mollify, alleviate.

Usage: The common idiom is "mitigating circumstances", circumstances that makes a crime more palatable, acceptable. But there is a plethora of circumstances where it applies. "I need something to mitigate the bad news I'm bringing home."

Suggested Usage: A common false cognate is "militate". Look out for the confusion.

Etymology: From Latin mitigatus, past participle of mitigare "to soften", from mitis "soft" + -igare, related to agere to "go, drive, do", cf. "agent", "agile", and all stems on "act".