a partial excuse to mitigate censure; an attempt to represent an offense as less serious than it appears by showing mitigating circumstances
同义词：mitigation
to act in such a way as to cause an offense to seem less serious
同义词：mitigation, palliation
extenuation例句
He pleaded poverty in extenuation of (ie as an excuse for) the theft.
他以贫穷为藉口请求为他犯的偷窃罪从轻量刑。
extenuation详细解释
ex.ten.u.a.tion n.（名词）The act of extenuating or the condition of being extenuated; partial justification.开脱：使人原谅的行为或被人原谅的条件；偏心的辩护A partial excuse.借口：偏心的借口
