2 definitions found
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]:
Alleviate \Al*le"vi*ate\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Alleviated}; p.
pr & vb n. {Alleviating}.] [LL. alleviare fr L. ad +
levis light. See {Alegge}, {Levity}.]
1. To lighten or lessen the force or weight of [Obs.]
Should no others join capable to alleviate the
expense. --Evelyn.
Those large bladders . . . conduce much to the
alleviating of the body [of flying birds]. --Ray.
2. To lighten or lessen (physical or mental troubles); to
mitigate, or make easier to be endured; as to alleviate
sorrow, pain, care etc.; -- opposed to {aggravate}.
The calamity of the want of the sense of hearing is
much alleviated by giving the use of letters. --Bp.
Horsley.
3. To extenuate; to palliate. [R.]
He alleviates his fault by an excuse. --Johnson.
Syn: To lessen; diminish; soften; mitigate; assuage; abate;
relieve; nullify; allay.
Usage: To {Alleviate}, {Mitigate}, {Assuage}, {Allay}. These
words have in common the idea of relief from some
painful state; and being all figurative, they differ
in their application, according to the image under
which this idea is presented. Alleviate supposes a
load which is lightened or taken off as to alleviate
one's cares Mitigate supposes something fierce which
is made mild; as to mitigate one's anguish. Assuage
supposes something violent which is quieted; as to
assuage one's sorrow. Allay supposes something
previously excited, but now brought down as to allay
one's suffering or one's thirst. To alleviate the
distresses of life; to mitigate the fierceness of
passion or the violence of grief; to assuage angry
feeling; to allay wounded sensibility.
From WordNet r 1.6 [wn]:
alleviated
adj : (of pain or sorrow) made easier to bear [syn: {eased}, {relieved}]
more about alleviated
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