Making a fault or offense seem less serious by providing partial justification; serving to make circumstances appear less severe.
From Latin 'extenuatus', from 'extenuare' meaning 'to make thin', from 'ex-' (out) + 'tenuis' (thin). The metaphor suggests making something thinner or weaker.
The word literally means 'to make thin', reflecting how extenuating circumstances don't eliminate guilt but rather dilute it - like adding water to wine, the essential nature remains but the intensity is reduced.
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