extenuation
Americannoun
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the act of extenuating.
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the state of being extenuated.
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something that extenuates; a partial excuse.
The youth of the defendant served as an extenuation.
Etymology
Origin of extenuation
1375–1425; late Middle English extenuacioun < Latin extenuātiōn- (stem of extenuātiō ). See extenuate, -ion
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Committee chair Dianne Feinstein appears to offer some extenuation when she reminds us in the report's preamble of the shock and "pervasive fear" felt after 9/11.
From Chicago Tribune • Dec. 11, 2014
Committee Chair Dianne Feinstein appears to offer some extenuation when she reminds us in the report’s preamble of the shock and “pervasive fear” felt after 9/11.
From Washington Post • Dec. 11, 2014
Even then, some reporters' questions suggested that, if Weiner's conduct could be defined as an illness, some further extenuation might be available.
From The Guardian • Jul. 28, 2013
Or, as used to be said in extenuation of strong leaders, “to make the trains run on time.”
From Washington Post
“But he’s all right soon after it,” he added in extenuation.
From Baseball Joe of the Silver Stars or The Rivals of Riverside by Chadwick, Lester
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
