Mit"i*gate (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Mitigated (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Mitigating.] [L. mitigatus, p. p. of mitigare to soften, mitigate; mitis mild, soft + the root of agere to do, drive.] 1. To make less severe, intense, harsh, rigorous, painful, etc.; to soften; to meliorate; to alleviate; to diminish; to lessen; as, to mitigate heat or cold; to mitigate grief.

2. To make mild and accessible; to mollify; - - applied to persons. [Obs.]

This opinion . . . mitigated kings into companions.

Syn. -- To alleviate; assuage; allay. See Alleviate.

• to reduce, lessen, or decrease