What is "extenuated"

Extenuate \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.

vb. (en-past of: extenuate)