Main Entry: al·le·vi·ate

Pronunciation: \ə-ˈlē-vē-ˌāt\

Function: transitive verb

Inflected Form(s): al·le·vi·at·ed; al·le·vi·at·ing

Etymology: Late Latin alleviatus, past participle of alleviare, from Latin ad- + levis light — more at light

Date: 15th century

: relieve, lessen: as a : to make (as suffering) more bearable <her sympathy alleviated his distress> b : to partially remove or correct <measures taken to alleviate a labor shortage>

synonyms see relieve

— al·le·vi·a·tion \-ˌlē-vē-ˈā-shən\ noun

— al·le·vi·a·tor \-ˈlē-vē-ˌā-tər\ noun