Lewis & Short

at-tĕnŭo (adt-, Lachm., Merk., Weissenb.; att-, Kayser, K. and H., L. Müller), āvi, ātum, 1, v. a., to make thin or weak; to thin, attenuate; to weaken, enfeeble; to lessen, diminish.

  1. I. Lit.: aëna Signa manus dextras ostendunt adtenuari Saepe salutantūm tactu, * Lucr. 1, 317 (cf.: attritum mentum, Cic. Verr. 2, 4, 43): bellum (servile) exspectatione Pompeii attenuatum atque imminutum est, adventu sublatum ac sepultum, Cic. Imp. Pomp. 11, 30: legio proeliis attenuata, Caes. B. C. 3, 89: diutino morbo viribus admodum adtenuatis, Liv. 39, 49; 25, 11: fame attenuari, Vulg. Job, 18, 12; ib. Jer. 14, 18: macie attenuari, ib. 2 Reg. 13, 4: sortes adtenuatae, diminished, Liv. 21, 62: foliorum exilitate usque in fila attenuatā, Plin. 21, 6, 16, § 30: (lingua) attenuans lambendo cutem homines, id. 11, 37, 65, § 172 al.: Non falx attenuat frondatorum arboris umbram, Cat. 64, 41: adtenuant juvenum vigilatae corpora noctes, Ov. A. A. 1, 735 (cf. infra, P. a.): patrias opes, id. M. 8, 844; so id. P. 4, 5, 38.
  2. II. Trop.: curas lyrā, Ov. Tr. 4, 1, 16; 4, 6, 18: luctus, Albin. ad Liv. 342: insignem attenuat deus, brings low, abases, Hor. C. 1, 34, 13: attenuabit omnes deos terrae, Vulg. Soph. 2, 11: hujusmodi partes sunt virtutis amplificandae, si suadebimus; attenuandae, si ab his dehortabimur, Auct. ad. Her. 3, 3, 6: attenuabitur gloria Jacob, Vulg. Isa. 17, 4.
    Hence, attĕnŭātus (adt-), a, um, P. a., enfeebled, weakened, reduced, weak.
  1. I. Lit.: adtenuatus amore, Ov. M. 3, 489: continuatione laborum, August. ap. Suet. Tib. 21: fortuna rei familiaris attenuatissima, Auct. ad Her. 4, 41: voce paululum attenuatā, with a voice a little suppressed, id. ib. 3, 14: acuta atque attenuata nimis acclamatio, id. ib. 12, 21.
    Comp. not in use.
    Sup.: fortunae familiares attenuatissimae, Auct. ad Her. 4, 41, 53.
  2. II. Trop.
    1. A. Feeble, destitute, poor (eccl. Lat.): Siattenuatus frater tuus vendiderit etc., Vulg. Lev. 25, 25; 25, 35; 25, 47; ib. 2 Esdr. 5, 18.
    2. B. Esp., of discourse.
      1. 1. Shortened, brief: ipsa illa [pro Roscio] juvenilis redundantia multa habet attenuata, Cic. Or. 30, 108.
      2. 2. Too much refined, affected: itaque ejus oratio nimiā religione attenuata doctis et attente audientibus erat illustris, hence his discourse was so delicately formed, through excessive scrupulousness, Cic. Brut. 82.
      3. 3. Meagre, dry, without ornament: attenuata (oratio) est, quae demissa est usque ad usitatissimam puri sermonis consuetudinem, Auct. ad Her. 4, 8: attenuata verborum constructio, id. ib. 4, 10, 15.
        * Adv.: at-tenuātē, simply: attenuate presseque dicere, Cic. Brut. 55, 201.