---
title: mitigate — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «mitigate» in the school dictionary: To make something bad less serious, less painful or less harmful. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# mitigate

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** punishment, Planting, new crossing, Saying, your, Engineers · **What happens:** make, seem, be, plant, help, mitigate · **To what, where:** something, wrong action, trees, flooding, danger, sorry · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«mitigate» in the school dictionary: its 2 meanings for a pupil and its 7 examples, every sentence parsed by Mova itself — its syntax tree, a dependency tree in the style of Universal Dependencies, and its pragmatics clause by clause. The word in the dictionary, with its sense in the lessons: [mitigate in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/mitigate.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .note -->
Usage: formal — kept apart, not parsed.

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To make something bad less serious, less painful or less harmful.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:mitigate:m1:1
# text = To make something bad less serious, less painful or less harmful.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	make	make	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	2	obj	_	_
4	bad	bad	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
5	less	less	ADV	RBR	Degree=Cmp	6	advmod	_	_
6	serious	serious	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	9	punct	_	_
8	less	less	ADV	RBR	Degree=Cmp	9	advmod	_	_
9	painful	painful	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	parataxis	_	_
10	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	12	cc	_	_
11	less	less	ADV	RBR	Degree=Cmp	12	advmod	_	_
12	harmful	harmful	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **make** | to-infinitive |  | something |  |  |  | serious *property* | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset something=Product |

<!-- .note -->
One row per clause the reader finds. «not said here»: a role filled from the clause above. «roles by»: a VerbNet class and frame when one fits the verb, else the reader's rules on the tree.

## Meaning 2 {#m2}

<!-- .note -->
Usage: law — kept apart, not parsed.

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To make a wrong action seem less bad, so a punishment may be lighter: «mitigating circumstances».

<!-- fold The tree, 16 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:mitigate:m2:1
# text = To make a wrong action seem less bad, so a punishment may be lighter: «mitigating circumstances».
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	make	make	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	6	advcl	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
4	wrong	wrong	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	action	action	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
6	seem	seem	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
7	less	less	ADV	RBR	Degree=Cmp	8	advmod	_	_
8	bad	bad	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	15	punct	_	_
10	so	so	ADV	RB	_	15	advmod	_	_
11	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
12	punishment	punishment	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	15	nsubj	_	_
13	may	may	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	15	aux	_	_
14	be	be	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	15	cop	_	_
15	lighter	light	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	6	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	19	punct	_	_
17	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	19	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	mitigating	mitigating	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	19	compound	_	_
19	circumstances	circumstance	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	15	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
20	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	19	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
21	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **make** | to-infinitive |  | a wrong action |  |  |  |  | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset action=Product |
| 2 | **seem** | present |  |  |  |  |  | bad *property* | vn seem-109-1-1-1 «NP V S\_INF»: agent=Theme |
| 3 | **is** | may | a punishment |  |  |  |  | mitigating circumstances *obl*; light *property* | tree rules |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Planting trees can help mitigate flooding.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:mitigate:x1:1
# text = Planting trees can help mitigate flooding.
1	Planting	plant	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	4	csubj	_	_
2	trees	tree	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	1	obj	_	_
3	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	4	aux	_	_
4	help	help	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
5	mitigate	mitigate	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	xcomp	_	_
6	flooding	flooding	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **plant** | gerund |  | trees |  |  |  |  | vn establish-55.5-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent tree=Patient |
| 2 | **help** | can | Planting |  |  |  |  |  | vn help-72.1-1-1 «NP V NP S\_INF»: agent=Agent clause=Theme |
| 3 | **mitigate** | infinitive | Planting *not said here* | flooding |  |  |  |  | vn other\_cos-45.4 «NP V NP.patient»: agent=Agent flooding=Patient |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The new crossing will mitigate the danger to children.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:mitigate:x2:1
# text = The new crossing will mitigate the danger to children.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	new	new	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	crossing	crossing	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
4	will	will	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	5	aux	_	_
5	mitigate	mitigate	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	danger	danger	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obj	_	_
8	to	to	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
9	children	child	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mitigate** | future | the new crossing | the danger |  |  |  | to children | vn other\_cos-45.4 «NP V NP.patient»: agent=Agent danger=Patient |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Saying sorry quickly may mitigate your punishment.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:mitigate:x3:1
# text = Saying sorry quickly may mitigate your punishment.
1	Saying	say	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	5	csubj	_	_
2	sorry	sorry	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	1	obj	_	_
3	quickly	quickly	ADV	RB	_	1	advmod	_	_
4	may	may	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	5	aux	_	_
5	mitigate	mitigate	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
6	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	7	nmod:poss	_	_
7	punishment	punishment	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **say** *speech: assert* | gerund |  | sorry |  |  |  | quickly *property* | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V NP.topic»: agent=Agent sorry=Topic |
| 2 | **mitigate** | may | Saying | your punishment |  |  |  |  | vn other\_cos-45.4 «NP V NP.patient»: agent=Agent punishment=Patient |
| 3 | **punish** |  | your |  |  |  |  |  | nom punishment «act transitive»: poss=agent |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Engineers built walls to mitigate the damage from storms.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:mitigate:x4:1
# text = Engineers built walls to mitigate the damage from storms.
1	Engineers	engineer	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nsubj	_	_
2	built	build	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	walls	wall	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	_
4	to	to	PART	TO	_	5	mark	_	_
5	mitigate	mitigate	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	advcl	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	damage	damage	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obj	_	_
8	from	from	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
9	storms	storm	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **build** | past | Engineers | walls |  |  |  |  | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset wall=Product |
| 2 | **mitigate** | to-infinitive | Engineers *not said here* | the damage |  | storms |  |  | vn other\_cos-45.4 «NP V NP.patient»: agent=Agent damage=Patient |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The judge said there were mitigating circumstances.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:mitigate:x5:1
# text = The judge said there were mitigating circumstances.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	judge	judge	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	said	say	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	there	there	PRON	EX	PronType=Dem	5	expl	_	_
5	were	be	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	3	ccomp	_	_
6	mitigating	mitigating	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	compound	_	_
7	circumstances	circumstance	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **say** *speech: assert* | past | the judge |  |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 2 | **be** | past | mitigating circumstances |  |  | there |  |  | vn exist-47.1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
We shut the windows to mitigate the noise.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:mitigate:x6:1
# text = We shut the windows to mitigate the noise.
1	We	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	shut	shut	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	windows	window	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	_
5	to	to	PART	TO	_	6	mark	_	_
6	mitigate	mitigate	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	advcl	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	noise	noise	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **shut** | present | We | the windows |  |  |  |  | vn other\_cos-45.4 «NP V NP.patient»: agent=Agent window=Patient |
| 2 | **mitigate** | to-infinitive | We *not said here* | the noise |  |  |  |  | vn other\_cos-45.4 «NP V NP.patient»: agent=Agent noise=Patient |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Wearing sun cream mitigates the risk of sunburn.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:mitigate:x7:1
# text = Wearing sun cream mitigates the risk of sunburn.
1	Wearing	wear	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	4	csubj	_	_
2	sun	sun	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
3	cream	cream	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obj	_	_
4	mitigates	mitigate	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	risk	risk	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	_
7	of	of	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	sunburn	sunburn	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **wear** | gerund |  | sun cream |  |  |  |  | vn wipe\_manner-10.4.1-1 «NP V NP.theme»: agent=Agent cream=Theme |
| 2 | **mitigate** | present | Wearing | the risk of sunburn |  |  |  |  | vn other\_cos-45.4 «NP V NP.patient»: agent=Agent risk=Patient |
| 3 | **risk** |  |  | sunburn |  |  |  |  | nom risk «state transitive»: of=patient |

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**Text:** the school dictionary of Mova's schools (`world/data/dictionary-schools/`), written for Mova. **Trees:** Mova's own parse — the `en` model on the CPU, when the site is built — not checked by a teacher; they may be wrong. **Frames:** Mova's frames reader (`prag`), each meaning and example read on its own. Elamur Cosmic License.

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