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Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary al·le·vi·ate \\ə-ˈlē-vē-ˌāt\\ transitive verb ( -at·ed ; -at·ing) ETYMOLOGY Late Latin alleviatus, past participle of alleviare, from Latin ad- + levis light — more at light
DATE 15th century
: relieve , lessen : as a. to make (as suffering) more bearable her sympathy alleviated his distress b. to partially remove or correct measures taken to alleviate a labor shortageSynonyms: see relieve • al·le·vi·a·tion \\-ˌlē-vē-ˈā-shən\\ noun• al·le·vi·a·tor \\-ˈlē-vē-ˌā-tər\\ noun
alleviate
1520s, from L.L. alleviatus, pp. of alleviare "to lighten," from L. ad- "to" + levis "light" in weight (see lever).
Oxford Collocations Dictionary for Students of English Oxford Collocations dictionary for students of Englishalleviate
verb ADV. considerably, greatly These problems have been greatly alleviated by the passing of the new Act. | partly, somewhat VERB + ALLEVIATE be designed to, help (to) These measures are designed to alleviate the situation. | do little/nothing to Her words did little to alleviate his fears. Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary-牛津双解-OALD7 alleviateal·le·vi·ate / E5li:vieit / verb[VN] to make sth less severe 减轻；缓和；缓解 SYN ease : to alleviate suffering 减轻苦难 A number of measures were taken to alleviate the problem. 采取了一系列措施缓解这个问题。 • al·le·vi·ation / E7li:vi5eiFn / noun [U]
Webster's Third New International Dictionary, Unabridged al·le·vi·ate\əˈlēvēˌāt also aˈ-; usu -ād.+V\ transitive verb( -ed/-ing/-s) Etymology: Late Latin alleviatus, past participle of alleviare to lighten, relieve, from Latin ad- + levis light — more at light 1. : lighten , lessen : relieve , moderate : as a. : to make easier to be endured (as physical or mental suffering) < does not cure but alleviates the disease > < a lotion for alleviating the itching of poison ivy > < little can be done for the sufferer beyond alleviating his agony — V.G.Heiser > < helped slightly to alleviate his sorrow > b. : to remove or correct in part (as a troublesome condition or state of mind) < measures for alleviating the critical labor shortage > < could alleviate the causes of conflicts among nations — Vera M. Dean > < efforts which do nothing to alleviate that hate — New Republic > — opposed to aggravate < how these problems are aggravated or alleviated by advances in technical knowledge — Clyde Kennedy >2. archaic : extenuate < alleviates his fault by an excuse — Samuel Johnson >Synonyms: see relieve
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