extenuating circumstances

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extenuating circumstances

A non-specific reason that excuses something that would otherwise be troublesome or problematic. All I heard was that the professor gave her an extension on her term paper due to extenuating circumstances.
See also: circumstance

extenuating circumstances

special (but otherwise unspecified) circumstances that account for an irregular or improper way of doing something. Mary was permitted to arrive late because of extenuating circumstances. Due to extenuating circumstances, the teacher will not meet with the class today.
See also: circumstance

extenuating circumstances

A situation or condition that provides an excuse for an action, as in Although Nancy missed three crucial rehearsals, there were extenuating circumstances, so she was not dismissed . This expression was originally legal terminology, denoting circumstances that partly excuse a crime and therefore call for less punishment or damages. [c. 1600]
See also: circumstance
References in periodicals archive ?
In mitigation of the sentence every extenuating circumstance - if circumstances can extenuate the worst of crimes - may honestly be pleaded; and will no doubt have due weight with those whose painful duty is to hold the balance of life and death.
Tale of cannibalism follows crew's return; RETRO REPORT September, 1884 How we covered..
Mozambique is one of the nations in Africa impacted by drought that will profit from a 12 million Italian government programme to extenuate against the impacts of the adverse weather conditions.
Italy,Mozambique : MOZAMBIQUE to profit from ITALY'S drought mitigation program worth EUR 12M
The Minister said that the Water Utilities Corporation would place water tanks in strategic spots in the affected regions to extenuate this situation.
Botswana : MINISTER: Gabane and Mmankgodi to be provided with 2 Water Tanks
The ministry has been mandated to extenuate the drought affect through assuring the supply of potable water supply and sanitation facilities to citizens to combat the outbreak of water borne diseases like cholera and diarrhea diseases.
Swaziland : SWAZILAND requires $13.8 million to address Water Crisis
What somewhat extenuates Laski's inventions, however, is that they lacked malice and were mostly self-puffery.
Harold Laski: A Life on the Left
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