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atténuer

lessen, mitigate

verb ah-tay-noo-AY Rare

Origin: Latin attenuare

Usage Note

Atténuer is the standard verb for reducing the intensity of something — pain, criticism, a sentence — and appears in legal, medical, and everyday contexts alike. Des circonstances atténuantes ('mitigating circumstances') is a fixed legal phrase every learner should know. The reflexive s'atténuer means 'to fade' or 'to ease off'.

Examples

"Ce médicament atténue la douleur."

Natural Translation

This medication lessens the pain.

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