palliation
    n 1: easing the severity of a pain or a disease without removing
         the cause
    2: to act in such a way as to cause an offense to seem less
       serious [syn: extenuation, mitigation, palliation]

Palliation \Pal`li*a"tion\, n. [Cf. F. palliation.]
   1. The act of palliating, or state of being palliated;
      extenuation; excuse; as, the palliation of faults,
      offenses, vices.
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   2. Mitigation; alleviation, as of a disease. --Bacon.
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   3. That which cloaks or covers; disguise; also, the state of
      being covered or disguised. [Obs.]
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