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. [ 1913 Webster ]

His body behind the head becomes broad, from whence it is again extenuated all the way to the tail. Grew. [ 1913 Webster ]

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. [ 1913 Webster ]

But fortune there extenuates the crime. Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

Let us extenuate, conceal, adorn the unpleasing reality. I. Taylor. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. To lower or degrade; to detract from. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

Who can extenuate thee? Milton.

Syn. -- To palliate; to mitigate. See Palliate. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. To become thinner; to make excuses; to advance palliating considerations. Burke. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ L. extenuatus, p. p. ] Thin; slender. [ Obs. ] Huloet. [ 1913 Webster ]

adj. serving or tending to reduce the severity of guilt or blameworthiness; as, extenuating circumstances.
Syn. -- mitigating. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

n. [ L. extenuatio: cf. F. exténuation. ] The act of axtenuating or the state of being extenuated; the act of making thin, slender, or lean, or of palliating; diminishing, or lessening; palliation, as of a crime; mitigation, as of punishment. [ 1913 Webster ]

To listen . . . to every extenuation of what is evil. I. Taylor. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. One who extenuates. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ Cf. L. extenuatorius attenuating. ] Tending to extenuate or palliate. Croker. [ 1913 Webster ]