v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Mitigated p. pr. & vb. n. Mitigating. ] [ L. mitigatus, p. p. of mitigare to soften, mitigate; mitis mild, soft + the root of agere to do, drive. ] 1. To make less severe, intense, harsh, rigorous, painful, etc.; to soften; to meliorate; to alleviate; to diminish; to lessen; as, to mitigate heat or cold; to mitigate grief. [ 1913 Webster ] 2. To make mild and accessible; to mollify; -- applied to persons. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ] This opinion . . . mitigated kings into companions. Burke. [ 1913 Webster ] Syn. -- To alleviate; assuage; allay. See Alleviate. [ 1913 Webster ] |