\Ex*ten"u*ate\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Extenuated}; p.
pr. & vb. n. {Extenuating}.] [L. extenuatus, p. p. of
extenuare to make thin, loosen, weaken; ex out + tenuare to
make thin, tenuis thin. See {Tenuity}.]
1. To make thin or slender; to draw out so as to lessen the
   thickness.
         His body behind the head becomes broad, from whence
         it is again extenuated all the way to the tail.
                                               --Grew.
2. To lessen; to palliate; to lessen or weaken the force of;
   to diminish the conception of, as crime, guilt, faults,
   ills, accusations, etc.; -- opposed to aggravate.
         But fortune there extenuates the crime. --Dryden.
         Let us extenuate, conceal, adorn the unpleasing
         reality.                              --I. Taylor.
3. To lower or degrade; to detract from. [Obs.]
         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.