English Lexicon

Alleviate

/əˈliː.vi.eɪt/
verbCEFR C1 (Advanced)Top #4500 frequency
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Comprehensive Definitions & Senses

1 sense
As verb
  1. 1

    To make suffering, deficiency, or a problem less severe.

    "The new medicine helped to alleviate her chronic pain."

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Linguistic Origin & Historical Etymology

Derived from the Late Latin word 'alleviare', formed from the prefix 'ad-' (to) and 'levis' (light, as in weight), meaning to make light or lighten. Entering the English language in the early 16th century, the verb originally retained a literal sense of physical lightening before shifting primarily to the figurative sense of lessening pain, hardship, or problems.

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