Al-lē'vi-āte, v. t.
v. t. [imp. & p. p. ALLEVIATED; p. pr. & vb. n. ALLEVIATING.] [L. Lat. alleviare, for Lat. allevare, Pr. alleviar, from Lat. levis, light. See ALLEGGE.]
Sense 1. To make light or easy to be borne, in a literal sense. [Rare.]
Sense 2. To make light, in a figurative sense; hence, to remove in part; to lessen; to mitigate, or make easier to be endured; as, to alleviate sorrow, pain, care, punishment, &c.
Should no others join capable to alleviate the expense. Evelyn.
The calamity of the want of the sense of hearing is much alleviated by giving the use of letters and of speech. Bp. Horsley.
Sense 3. To make less by representation; to lessen in respect to magnitude or criminality; to extenuate; applied to moral conduct. [Rare.] “He alleviates his fault by an excuse.” Johnson.
Synonyms—To lessen; diminish; soften; mitigate; assuage; abate; relieve; nullify; allay.—To ALLEVIATE, MITIGATE, ASSUAGE, ALLAY. These words have in common the idea of relief from some painful state; and being all figurative, they differ in their application, according to the image under which this idea is presented. Alleviate supposes a load which is lightened or taken off; as, to alleviate one's cares. Mitigate supposes something fierce which is made mild; as, to mitigate one's anguish. Assuage supposes something violent which is quieted; as, to assuage one's sorrow. Allay supposes something previously excited, but now brought down; as, to allay one's suffering. To alleviate the distresses of life; to mitigate the fierceness of passion; to assuage angry feeling; to allay wounded sensibility.