palliate

1 lessen or to try to lessen the seriousness or extent of; "The circumstances extenuate the crime" [syn: extenuate, mitigate]

2 provide physical relief, as from pain; "This pill will relieve your headaches" [syn: relieve, alleviate, assuage]

English

Etymology

From palliare "to cover with a cloak", from pallium "cloak"

Pronunciation

Verb

1. To lessen the severity of; to extenuate.
2. To cause to seem less serious.
3. To relieve the symptoms of; to ameliorate.
4. To cover by excuses and apologies.

References

• Paternoster, Lewis M. and Frager-Stone, Ruth. Three Dimensions of Vocabulary Growth. Second Edition. Amsco School Publications: USA. 1998.

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