Explanation vs Extenuation - What's the difference?

explanation | extenuation | Related terms |

Explanation is a related term of extenuation.

As nouns the difference between explanation and extenuation

is that explanation is the act or process of explaining while extenuation is extenuation; exhaustion.

explanation

English

(wikipedia explanation)

Noun

(en noun)

The act or process of explaining.

The explanation was long and drawn-out.

Something that explains, makes understandable.

An explanation for each UFO sighting was easily found.

(euphemistic) An excuse, apologetic justification not based on enough evidence.

expense.

Synonyms

* (act or process of explaining) clarification, elucidation, elaboration

External links

* *

extenuation

English

Alternative forms

Noun

# The action or .

#* 1576 , Baker, Jewell of Health , page 171 a:

This mightily helpeth the extenuation of members.

#* 1655 , Culpepper, Riverius , i.v.19:

A yong man…had an extenuation for want of nourishment in his Limbs.

#* 1707 , Floyer, Physic. Pulse-Watch , page 183:

Galen commends tepid Baths for…curing all Extenuations .

#* 1781 October 27th, Johnson, Let. Mrs. Thrale :

The extenuation is her only bad symptom.

#* 1825 , Scott, Betrothed , xxx:

The female…exhibited…some symptoms of extenuation .

#* 1828 , Biog.'' in ''Ann. Reg. , page 474/2:

Some pallid from extenuation .

# .

#* 1655–60 , Stanley, Hist. Philos. (1701), page 64/2:

Winds proceed from extenuation of the Air, by the Sun.

# (lb) The action or process of making ; an instance of this.

#* 1619 , Donne, Serm. xiv, page 140:

All Dilatation is some degree of Extenuation .

#* 1665 , Sir T. Herbert, Trav. (1677), page 186:

The Sea is the same at all seasons; what it gets by Rivers and showers, losing by exhalations and extenuations through the excessive heats…within the Torrid Zone.

#* 1777 , Priestley, Matt. & Spir. (1782), volume I, chapter xix, page 229:

Gregory the Great…says that God penetrates everything without extenuation .

# (lb) The action of making ).

#* 1542–3 , Act'' 34–5 ''Hen. VIII , c. 18:

The saide citie is much decaid…not a little to the extenuacion of that part of this realme.

#* 1596 , Shaks., , act III, scene ii, 22:

Such extenuation let me begge, As in reproofe of many Tales deuis’d…I may…Finde pardon on my true submission.

#* 1654 , H. L’Estrange, Chas. I (1655), page 1:

The gallantry of Henry’s heroique spirit tended somewhat to the…extenuation of Charles his glory.

#* 1707 , Atterbury, Serm. v. (1723), volume II, page 159:

What Deeds of Charity we have to alledge in Extenuation of our Punishment.

# The action of .

#* 1614 , Bp. Hall, Recoll. Treat. , page 209:

Sometimes…wee humble ourselves lower than there is cause…And no lesse well doth God take these submisse extenuations of our selves.

#* 1621 , Burton, Anat. Mel. , ii.i.iv.ii.228:

Through their…extenuation [of their grievance], wretchedness and peevishness they undo themselves.

#* 1722 , De Foe, Plague (1840), page 6:

Many died of it every day, so that now all our extenuations abated.

#* 1859 , Mill, Liberty ii. (1865), page 13/2:

The utmost they allow is an extenuation of its absolute necessity.

#* 1873 , A.V.S. Sligo (translator), R.F. Calixte (author), The Life of the Venerable (Anna Maria Taigi) , page 303:

The simple matter-of-fact style of the narrative is, from its unobtrusive character, more adapted for spiritual reading than the views and generalisations, and prologetic extenuations of more recent biographers.

## of something.

##* 1589 , Puttenham, Eng. Poesie iii. xix. (Arb.), page 227:

We call him the Disabler or figure of Extenuation .

##* 1657 , J. Smith, Myst. Rhet. , page 56:

When for extenuation sake we use a lighter and more easie word or terme then the matter requires.

##* 1706 , in Phillips

##* 1823 , in'' Crabb, ''Technol. Dict.

# The action of .

#* 1651 , Hobbes, Leviath. , ii., xxvii., page 156:

Extenuation , by which the Crime, that seemed great, is made lesse.

#* ante'' 1674 , Clarendon, ''Surv. Leviath. (1676), page 180:

He…was to find excuses and extenuations for sins.

#* 1712 , Addison, Spect. , ? 297, ¶ 1:

Whatever may be said for the Extenuation of such Defects.

#* 1750 , Johnson, Rambler , ? 39, ¶ 7:

It may be urged, in extenuation of this crime…that [etc.].

#* ante'' 1832 , Bentham, ''Wks. (1843), volume I, page 174:

The differences of castes…furnish a copious stock of extenuations …to different classes of offences.

#* 1839 , Mackintosh, Eth. Philos. , Wks. 1846, volume I, page 28:

In extenuation of a noble error.

# .

#* 1881 May, G.W. Cable in Scribner’s Mag. , page 23:

They were clad in silken extenuations from the throat to the feet.

#* 1883 September 12th, Pall Mall G. , page 2/2:

One side wore…extenuations of a…green colour.

Derived terms

References

* “Extenuation” listed on page 460/2–3] of § 2 (E, ed. (Henry Bradley)) of volume III (D–E, 1897) of [[w:Oxford English Dictionary, A New English Dictionary on Historical Principles] (1st ed.)