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To lighten or lessen the force or weight of. [Obs.] Should no others join capable to alleviate the expense. Evelyn. Those large bladders . . . conduce much to the alleviating of the body [of flying birds]. Ray.

To allay or alleviate; to lighten. [Obs.] That shall alegge this bitter blast. Spenser.

To alleviate; to abate; to mitigate; as, to allay the severity of affliction or the bitterness of adversity. It would allay the burning quality of that fell poison. Shak.

To alleviate; to lighten, as a burden or a trouble. [Obs.] Wyclif.

Tending to alleviate. -- n.

A medicine to alleviate pain; an anodyne. [R.]

and is extensively used to produce anæsthesia in surgical operations; also externally, to alleviate pain.

To cheer in distress or depression; to alleviate the grief and raise the spirits of; to relieve; to comfort; to soothe. And empty heads console with empty sound. Pope. I am much consoled by the reflection that the religion of Christ has been attacked in vain by all the wits and philosophers, and its triumph has been co…

To render less painful or oppressive; to mitigate; to alleviate. My couch shall ease my complaint. Job vii. 13.

Made less harsh or burdensome; alleviated. [Obs.] Sir. T. Elyot.

To make less burdensome or afflictive; to alleviate; as, to lighten the cares of life or the burden of grief.

To make less severe, intense, harsh, rigorous, painful, etc.; to soften; to meliorate; to alleviate; to diminish; to lessen; as, to mitigate heat or cold; to mitigate grief.

Tending to mitigate or alleviate; mitigative.

Eased; mitigated; alleviated. [Obs.] Bp. Fell.

Anything which alleviates or compensates for suffering or loss; a compensation; esp., an additional allowance, as for injured feelings.