alleviate
UK: əˈliː.vi.eɪt | US: əˈliː.vi.eɪt
vt. to make (suffering, deficiency, or a problem) less severe
vt. to partially remove or correct (a burden or difficulty)
The word "alleviate" traces back to Latin alleviare, combining ad- (toward) and levis (light). The core idea is "to lighten a burden," reflecting its modern sense of reducing physical or emotional weight. Over time, it broadened to include abstract problems (e.g., pain, poverty). The suffix -ate marks it as a verb, typical of Latin-derived English words.
The doctor prescribed medication to alleviate her chronic pain.
Planting trees can alleviate urban heat island effects.
Emergency funds were allocated to alleviate the famine.
Humor often alleviates tension in stressful situations.
New policies aim to alleviate traffic congestion downtown.