alleviate

• POS: Verb (transitive)
• HYPHEN: al=le=vi=ate

CIDE DICTIONARY

alleviate, v. t. [LL. alleviare, fr. L. ad + levis light. See Alegge, Levity.].

•  To lighten or lessen the force or weight of.  [1913 Webster]

  "Should no others join capable to alleviate the expense."  [1913 Webster]

  "Those large bladders . . . conduce much to the alleviating of the body [of flying birds]."  [1913 Webster]
•  To lighten or lessen (physical or mental troubles); to mitigate, or make easier to be endured; as, to alleviate sorrow, pain, care, etc. ; -- opposed to aggravate.  [1913 Webster]

  "The calamity of the want of the sense of hearing is much alleviated by giving the use of letters."  [1913 Webster]
•  To extenuate; to palliate.  [1913 Webster]

  "He alleviates his fault by an excuse."  [1913 Webster]

Syn. -- To lessen; diminish; soften; mitigate; assuage; abate; relieve; nullify; allay.

OXFORD DICTIONARY

alleviate, v.tr. lessen or make less severe (pain, suffering, etc.).

Derivative

alleviation n. alleviative adj. alleviator n. alleviatory adj.

Etymology

LL alleviare lighten f. L allevare (as AD-, levare raise)

THESAURUS

alleviate

abate, allay, anesthetize, appease, assuage, attemper, attenuate, bank the fire, bate, be light, benumb, blunt, chasten, constrain, control, cure, cushion, damp, dampen, de-emphasize, deaden, deaden the pain, dilute, diminish, disburden, disencumber, downplay, dull, ease, ease matters, extenuate, foment, give relief, have little weight, keep within bounds, kick the beam, lay, lenify, lessen, lighten, lull, make light, make lighter, mitigate, moderate, modulate, mollify, numb, obtund, off-load, pad, palliate, play down, poultice, pour balm into, pour oil on, reduce, reduce the temperature, reduce weight, relieve, remedy, remit, restrain, salve, slacken, slake, slow down, smother, sober, sober down, soften, soothe, stifle, stupe, subdue, suppress, tame, temper, tone down, tune down, unballast, unburden, underplay, unlade, unload, water down, weaken, weigh lightly

ROGET THESAURUS

alleviate

Moderation

VB be moderate, keep within bounds, keep within compass, sober down, settle down, keep the peace, remit, relent, take in sail, moderate, soften, mitigate, temper, accoy, attemper, contemper, mollify, lenify, dulcify, dull, take off the edge, blunt, obtund, sheathe, subdue, chasten, sober down, tone down, smooth down, weaken, lessen, check palliate, tranquilize, pacify, assuage, appease, swag, lull, soothe, compose, still, calm, calm down, cool, quiet, hush, quell, sober, pacify, tame, damp, lay, allay, rebate, slacken, smooth, alleviate, rock to sleep, deaden, smooth, throw cold water on, throw a wet blanket over, turn off, slake, curb, tame, smooth over, pour oil on the waves, pour oil on the troubled waters, pour balm into, mattre de l'eau dans son vin, go out like a lamb, roar you as gently as any sucking dove.

Relief

VB relieve, ease, alleviate, mitigate, palliate, soothe, salve, soften, soften down, foment, stupe, poultice, assuage, allay, cheer, comfort, console, enliven, encourage, bear up, pat on the back, give comfort, set at ease, gladden the heart, cheer the heart, inspirit, invigorate, remedy, cure, refresh, pour balm into, pour oil on, smooth the ruffled brow of care, temper the wind to the shorn lamb, lay the flattering unction to one's soul, disburden, take a load off one's chest, get a load off one's chest, take off a load of care, be relieved, breathe more freely, draw a long breath, take comfort, dry the tears, dry the eyes, wipe the tears, wipe the eyes.