Mitigate \Mit"i*gate\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Mitigated; p. pr. &
vb. n. Mitigating.]
[L. mitigatus, p. p. of mitigare to
soften, mitigate; mitis mild, soft + the root of agere to do,
drive.]
1. To make less severe, intense, harsh, rigorous, painful,
etc.; to soften; to meliorate; to alleviate; to diminish;
to lessen; as, to mitigate heat or cold; to mitigate
grief.
2. To make mild and accessible; to mollify; -- applied to
persons. [Obs.]
This opinion . . . mitigated kings into companions.
--Burke.
Syn: To alleviate; assuage; allay. See Alleviate.
Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)
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