Ex*ten"u*ate (?), v. t. [imp. &
p. p. Extenuated(?); p. pr. & vb.
n. Extenuating(?).] [L. extenuatus, p. p. of
extenuare to make thin, loosen, weaken; ex out +
tenuare to make thin, tenuis thin. See Tenuity.]
1. To make thin or slender; to draw out so as to
lessen the thickness.
His body behind the head becomes broad, from whence it
is again extenuated all the way to the tail.
Grew.
2. To lessen; to palliate; to lessen or
weaken the force of; to diminish the conception of, as crime, guilt,
faults, ills, accusations, etc.; -- opposed to
aggravate.
But fortune there extenuates the
crime.
Dryden.
Let us extenuate, conceal, adorn the unpleasing
reality.
I. Taylor.
3. To lower or degrade; to detract
from. [Obs.]
Who can extenuate thee?
Milton.
Syn. -- To palliate; to mitigate. See Palliate.
Ex*ten"u*ate, v. i. To become
thinner; to make excuses; to advance palliating considerations.
Burke.
Ex*ten"u*ate (?), a. [L.
extenuatus, p. p.] Thin; slender. [Obs.]
Huloet.