mit·i·ga·tive \ˈ ̷ ̷ ̷ ̷ˌgād.iv\adjective Etymology: Middle English mitigatif, from Middle French, from Late Latin mitigativus, from Latin mitigatus (past participle) + -ivus -ive : tending to mitigate : alleviating, lenitive < an air of being a trifle apologetic; and this mitigative, tentative quality shows … in their stance — Time >