Part 320

<blockquote>Should no others join capable to <b>alleviate</b> the expense. <i>Evelyn.</i></blockquote>

<blockquote>Those large bladders . . . conduce much to the <b>alleviating</b> of the body [of flying birds]. <i>Ray.</i></blockquote>

<p><b>2.</b> <def>To lighten or lessen (physical or mental troubles); to mitigate, or make easier to be endured; <as>as, to <ex>alleviate</ex> sorrow, pain, care, etc.</as> ; -- opposed to <i>aggravate</i>.</def>

<blockquote>The calamity of the want of the sense of hearing is much <b>alleviated</b> by giving the use of letters. <i>Bp. Horsley.</i></blockquote>

<p><b>3.</b> <def>To extenuate; to palliate.</def> <mark>[R.]</mark>

<blockquote>He <b>alleviates</b> his fault by an excuse. <i>Johnson.</i></blockquote>

<syn>Syn. -- To lessen; diminish; soften; mitigate; assuage; abate; relieve; nullify; allay.</syn> <usage> -- To <er>Alleviate</er>, <er>Mitigate</er>, <er>Assuage</er>, <er>Allay</er>. These words have in common the idea of relief from some painful state; and being all figurative, they differ in their application, according to the image under which this idea is presented. <i>Alleviate</i> supposes a load which is lightened or taken off; <as>as, to <ex>alleviate</ex> one's cares</as>. <i>Mitigate</i> supposes something fierce which is made mild; <as>as, to <ex>mitigate</ex> one's anguish</as>. <i>Assuage</i> supposes something violent which is quieted; <as>as, to <ex>assuage</ex> one's sorrow</as>. <i>Allay</i> supposes something previously excited, but now brought down; <as>as, to <ex>allay</ex> one's suffering or one's thirst</as>. To <i>alleviate</i> the distresses of life; to <i>mitigate</i> the fierceness of passion or the violence of grief; to <i>assuage</i> angry feeling; to <i>allay</i> wounded sensibility.</usage>

<h1>Alleviation</h1> <Xpage=40>

<hw>Al*le`vi*a"tion</hw> <tt>(#)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt> <ety>[LL. <ets>alleviatio</ets>.]</ety> <p><b>1.</b> <def>The act of alleviating; a lightening of weight or severity; mitigation; relief.</def>

<hr> <page="41"> Page 41<p>

<p><b>2.</b> <def>That which mitigates, or makes more tolerable.</def>

<blockquote>I have not wanted such <b>alleviations</b> of life as friendship could supply. <i>Johnson.</i></blockquote>

<h1>Alleviative</h1> <Xpage=41>

<hw>Al*le"vi*a*tive</hw> <tt>(#)</tt>, <tt>a.</tt> <def>Tending to alleviate.</def> -- <wordforms><tt>n.</tt> <def>That which alleviates.</def></wordforms>

<h1>Alleviator</h1> <Xpage=41>

<hw>Al*le"vi*a`tor</hw> <tt>(#)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt> <def>One who, or that which, alleviaties.</def>

<h1>Alleviatory</h1> <Xpage=41>

<hw>Al*le"vi*a*to*ry</hw> <tt>(#)</tt>, <tt>a.</tt> <def>Alleviative.</def>

<i>Carlyle.</i>

<h1>Alley</h1> <Xpage=41>

<hw>Al"ley</hw> <tt>(#)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt>; <plu>pl. <plw>Alleys</plw> <tt>(#)</tt></plu>. <ety>[OE. <ets>aley</ets>, <ets>alley</ets>, OF. <ets>al\'82e</ets>, F. <ets>all\'82e</ets>, a going, passage, fr. OE. <ets>aler</ets>, F. <ets>aller</ets>, to go; of uncertain origin: cf. Prov. <ets>anar</ets>, It. <ets>andare</ets>, Sp. <ets>andar</ets>.]</ety> <p><b>1.</b> <def>A narrow passage; especially a walk or passage in a garden or park, bordered by rows of trees or bushes; a bordered way.</def>

<blockquote>I know each lane and every <b>alley</b> green. <i>Milton.</i></blockquote>

<p><b>2.</b> <def>A narrow passage or way in a city, as distinct from a public street.</def>

<i>Gay.</i>

<p><b>3.</b> <def>A passageway between rows of pews in a church.</def>

<p><b>4.</b> <fld>(Persp.)</fld> <def>Any passage having the entrance represented as wider than the exit, so as to give the appearance of length.</def>

<p><b>5.</b> <def>The space between two rows of compositors' stands in a printing office.</def>

<h1>Alley</h1> <Xpage=41>