Extenuate
Extenuate , transitive verb
[Latin extenuatus, past participle 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.
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.
Let us extenuate, conceal, adorn the unpleasing reality.
3.
To lower or degrade; to detract from. [Obsolete]
Who can extenuate thee?
Extenuate , intransitive verb
To become thinner; to make excuses; to advance palliating considerations. — Burke
Extenuate , adjective
[Latin extenuatus, p. p.]
Thin; slender. [Obsolete] — Huloet