Mitigate



GRE 蓝宝 Barron TOEFL

解释

GRE 红宝书

• v. 减轻, 缓和
• ［英］ v. 减轻, 缓和 ( to lessen in force or intensity)
• ［记］ miti ( 小, 轻) +gate ( =ag做) -> 弄轻 -> 减轻
• ［同］ 派生词: mitigation ( n. 缓解, 减轻)

Webster Collegiate

transitive verb (-gated; -gating)

• 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 <aggressiveness may be mitigated or…channeled — Ashley Montagu>
• 2.
  • a. to make less severe or painful ; alleviate
  • b. extenuate
• Synonyms: see relieve
• ? mitigation noun
• ? mitigative adjective
• ? mitigator noun
• ? mitigatory 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.

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