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extenuation

[ik-sten-yoo-ey-shuh n]
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noun
  1. the act of extenuating.
  2. the state of being extenuated.
  3. something that extenuates; a partial excuse: The youth of the defendant served as an extenuation.
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Origin of extenuation

1375–1425; late Middle English extenuacioun < Latin extenuātiōn- (stem of extenuātiō). See extenuate, -ion
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Related Words for extenuation

explanation, justification, apology, vindication, diminution, abatement, mitigation

Examples from the Web for extenuation

Historical Examples of extenuation

  • "He attacked me like the low ruffian that he is," pleaded Halbert, in extenuation.

    Brave and Bold

    Horatio Alger

  • You heard him plead, in extenuation of his fault, his mode of life, his rearing.

    Scaramouche

    Rafael Sabatini

  • From the British point of view there was much to be said in extenuation of the practice.

    Union and Democracy

    Allen Johnson

  • The object of this examination grinned a faint grin of extenuation.

    From Place to Place

    Irvin S. Cobb

  • "The las' time, Bettie; the las' time," he said, in extenuation.

    Prairie Folks

    Hamlin Garland

Word Origin and History for extenuation

n.

early 15c., from Latin extenuationem (nominative extenuatio), noun of action from past participle stem of extenuare (see extenuate).

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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper