alleviate

views updated May 23 2018

al·le·vi·ate / əˈlēvēˌāt/ • v. [tr.] make (suffering, deficiency, or a problem) less severe: he couldn't prevent her pain, only alleviate it.DERIVATIVES: al·le·vi·a·tion / əˌlēvēˈāshən/ n.al·le·vi·a·tor / -ˌātər/ n.

The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English

alleviate

views updated May 14 2018

alleviate XV. f. pp. stem of late L. alleviāre, f. AL-1 + levis light (see LEVITY); see -ATE3.

The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology T. F. HOAD

More From encyclopedia.com

About this article

alleviate

All Sources -
Updated Aug 08 2016 About encyclopedia.com content Print Topic

You Might Also Like