EXTENUATING

extenuating

(adjective) partially excusing or justifying; “extenuating circumstances”

Source: WordNet® 3.1

Etymology

Verb

extenuating

present participle of extenuate

Adjective

extenuating (comparative more extenuating, superlative most extenuating)

That lessens the seriousness of something by providing an excuse.

Source: Wiktionary

EXTENUATE

Ex*ten"u*ate, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Extenuated(); p. pr. & vb. n. Extenuating().] Etym: [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.

Definition: To become thinner; to make excuses; to advance palliating considerations. Burke.

Ex*ten"u*ate, a. Etym: [L. extenuatus, p. p.]

Definition: Thin; slender. [Obs.] Huloet.

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition