adj

extenuate

Extenuate (adj) means of a person: emaciated, wasted, weakened; of the body or part of it: atrophied, shrunken, withered.

adj

Of a person: emaciated, wasted, weakened; of the body or part of it: atrophied, shrunken, withered.

Of a quality or thing: lessened, weakened.

Reduced to poverty; impoverished.

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Etymology

From Middle English extenuat (“(medicine) made thin, emaciated”), from Latin extenuātus (“diminished, reduced, thinned”), perfect passive participle of extenuō (“to diminish, reduce, thin”) (see -ate (adjective-forming suffix)), from ex- (“out-, thoroughly”) + tenuō (“to enfeeble, weaken, wear down; to lessen, reduce; to make thin”), from tenuis (“fine, slender, thin; feeble, weak”) (ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *tenh₂- (“to extend, stretch; thin”)) + -ō (first conjugation-verb forming suffix). Compare attenuate.

Rhymes for extenuate

ate date rate mate fate abate slate plate state grate create update

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Frequently asked questions

What is the meaning of extenuate?

"extenuate" (adj) means of a person: emaciated, wasted, weakened; of the body or part of it: atrophied, shrunken, withered.

What are the different meanings of extenuate?

"extenuate" has 3 main meanings: 1. Of a person: emaciated, wasted, weakened; of the body or part of it: atrophied, shrunken, withered; 2. Of a quality or thing: lessened, weakened; 3. Reduced to poverty; impoverished.