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2. The calamity of the want of the sense of hearing is much alleviated by giving the use of letters. He alleviates his fault by an excuse. 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. Alleviation I have not wanted such alleviations of life as friendship could supply. |
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