Mitigation
/ˌmɪtɪˈɡeɪʃən/noun
The act of making something less severe, harmful, painful, or serious.
Did you know?Mitigation ultimately combines Latin mitis, “mild,” with agere, “to make or drive,” linking the word to an ancient idea of actively softening harm rather than merely enduring it.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*h₂eǵ-
“To drive, propel, or do; the ancient root behind Latin agere.”
Classical Latin
Latin
mitis
“Mild, soft, gentle, or not harsh.”
Classical Latin
Latin
mitigare
“To make mild, soften, or lessen in severity; formed from mitis plus agere.”
Late Latin
Latin
mitigatio
“A softening, alleviation, or reduction in severity.”
14th–15th Century
Old French
mitigation
“The act of lessening or moderating something harsh.”
15th Century
English
mitigation
“The reduction of punishment, blame, pain, or severity.”
Modern English
English
mitigation
“The process of reducing harm, risk, intensity, or seriousness.”