a. and sb. [f. EXTENUATE v. + -IVE.]

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  A.  adj. a. Tending to make lean. b. Tending to extenuate (guilt).

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1610.  Barrough, Meth. Physick, II. ix. (1639), 85. They have more need of extenuative meates then those that have the Pleurisie.

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1827.  Bentham, Ration. Evid., Wks. 1843, VII. 15. Proving the existence of some justificative, or extenuative, or exemptive, circumstance.

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  B.  sb. a. Something serving to extenuate guilt. b. A medicine producing ‘extenuation’ or emaciation.

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a. 1734.  North, Exam., II. v. § 90. Another Extenuative of the intended Rebellion.

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1818.  Blackw. Mag., III. 524/2. Be a little more sparing of extenuatives and soporifics.

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