palliate Copy link • palliate: Phr.: to p. a crime, *verbis sceleris atrocitatem extenuare, lenire: cf. Cic. Verr. 5, 40, 103 (crimen ex., to abate the strength of an accusation): Sall. Jug. 27 (atrocitatem facti lenire, to soften it down): though they could not justify themselves altogether, they sought to p. their conduct, *quum sese ex toto purgare non possent, attamen excusando delicta extenuare conabantur. See also to excuse, exculpate; pretext.