a. [ad. L. extenuātōri-us, f. extenuāre: see EXTENUATE and -ORY.] Characterized by extenuation; having the function or effect of extenuating.
1807. W. Taylor, in Ann. Rev., V. 172. The translation adopts an extenuatory turn.
1831. Croker, in Boswell’s Johnson, an. 1744, I. 142, note. The veil, of stately diction and extenuatory phrases.
1870. Contemp. Rev., XIV. 618. The sweeping verdict … on Martial’s palpable faults, without any extenuatory mention of his tenderer touches.
