[1] : The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48

extenuation \exten`ua"tion\, n. l. extenuatio: cf. f.
   ext'enuation.
   the act of axtenuating or the state of being extenuated; the
   act of making thin, slender, or lean, or of palliating;
   diminishing, or lessening; palliation, as of a crime;
   mitigation, as of punishment.
   1913 webster

         to listen . . . to every extenuation of what is evil.
                                                  --i. taylor.
   1913 webster

[2] : WordNet (r) 2.0

extenuation
     n 1: a partial excuse to mitigate censure; an attempt to
          represent an offense as less serious than it appears by
          showing mitigating circumstances syn: mitigation
     2: to act in such a way as to cause an offense to seem less
        serious syn: mitigation, palliation
see also:
mitigation palliation 

Extenuation >> E Words
Extenuation, definition of term: Extenuation
extenuation_pag1.html