GNU Collaborative International Dictionary of English

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1.       
   Alleviate , v. t. [imp. & p. p. Alleviated; p. pr. & vb. n. Alleviating.] [LL. alleviare, fr. L. ad + levis light. See Alegge, Levity.]
   To lighten or lessen the force or weight of. [Obs.]
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   Should no others join capable to alleviate the expense.
   Evelyn.
   
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   Those large bladders . . . conduce much to the alleviating of the body [of flying birds].
   Ray.
   
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   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.
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   The calamity of the want of the sense of hearing is much alleviated by giving the use of letters.
   Bp. Horsley.
   
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   To extenuate; to palliate. [R.]
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   He alleviates his fault by an excuse.
   Johnson.
   
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   Syn. -- 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 or one's thirst. To alleviate the distresses of life; to mitigate the fierceness of passion or the violence of grief; to assuage angry feeling; to allay wounded sensibility.
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