term:

Mitigate

mitigate vb

-gat·ed
-gat·ing
vt
: to lessen or minimize the severity of [what actions the State took to the hazardous conditions "Estate of Arrowwood v. State, 894 P.2d 642 (1995)"] [factors that the crime] see also mitigation of damages compare aggravate
vi
: to lessen or minimize the severity of one's losses or damage [a failure to ]
mit·i·ga·tion [mi-tə-gā-shən]
n

mit·i·ga·tive [mi-tə-gā-tiv]
adj

Source: Merriam-Webster's Dictionary of Law ©1996. Merriam-Webster, Incorporated. Published under license with Merriam-Webster, Incorporated.