Who can extenuate thee?
Milton.
Syn. -- To palliate; to mitigate. See Palliate.
Ex*ten"u*ate, v. i. To become thinner; to make excuses; to advance palliating considerations. Burke.
Ex*ten"u*ate (?), a. [L. extenuatus, p. p.] Thin; slender. [Obs.] Huloet.
Ex*ten`u*a"tion (?), n. [L. extenuatio: cf. F. exténuation.] The act of axtenuating or the state of being extenuated; the act of making thin, slender, or lean, or of palliating; diminishing, or lessening; palliation, as of a crime; mitigation, as of punishment.
To listen . . . to every extenuation of what is evil.