extenuation

• In extenuation, it must be remembered that from their earliest years, they were not only initiated in stratagem by the necessity of self-defence, but taught to look on every exhibition of craft and cunning as a triumph of skill and a worthy subject of admiration. —  The Life of the Venerable Mother Mary of the Incarnation
• In England there is certainly much to be offered in extenuation, as charity is extorted by law to the utmost farthing. —  Olla Podrida
• Still, after all extenuation is made it may be questioned whether any term implying quantity is a fit expression for a moral attribute. —  Christianity and Ethics A Handbook of Christian Ethics
• The instant that the silence was broken by the stern, expressive voice of the monk as he recited the prayer--and more especially when he addressed to us the words: "Reveal thou all thy sins without shame, concealment, or extenuation, and let thy soul be cleansed before God: for if thou concealest aught, then great will be thy sin"--the same sensation of reverent awe came over me as I had felt during the morning. —  Youth
• Evidently friendly to Francisco he was obliged to point out to them, that although the evidence of the young lady had produced much which might be offered in extenuation, and induce him to submit it to His Majesty, in hopes of his gracious pardon after condemnation, yet, that many acts in which the prisoner had been involved had endangered his life and no testimony had been brought forward to prove that he had not, at one time, acted with the pirates, although he might since have repented. —  The Pirate

Allen's Synonyms and Antonyms

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