Main Entry: mit·i·gate

Pronunciation: \ˈmi-tə-ˌgāt\

Function: transitive verb

Inflected Form(s): mit·i·gat·ed; mit·i·gat·ing

Etymology: Middle English, from Latin mitigatus, past participle of mitigare to soften, from mitis soft + -igare (akin to Latin agere to drive); akin to Old Irish moíth soft — more at agent

Date: 15th century

1 : to cause to become less harsh or hostile : mollify
2 a : to make less severe or painful : alleviate b : extenuate

synonyms see relieve

— mit·i·ga·tion \ˌmi-tə-ˈgā-shən\ noun

— mit·i·ga·tive \ˈmi-tə-ˌgā-tiv\ adjective

— mit·i·ga·tor \-ˌgā-tər\ noun

— mit·i·ga·to·ry \ˈmi-ti-gə-ˌtȯr-ē\ adjective

usage Mitigate is sometimes used as an intransitive (followed by against) where militate might be expected. Even though Faulkner used it <some intangible and invisible social force that mitigates against him — William Faulkner> and one critic thinks it should be called an American idiom, it is usually considered a mistake.