word of the day: attenuate

Despite having worked for an oil & gas contractor for over 4 years, I still often come across stuff that is so full of technical language that it takes me a few attempts to make sense of even the normal words. One such example from today:

"We are especially interested in your ability to perform strength level analyses, ductility level analyses, nonlinear time-history analyses, and to quantify source-to-site motion attenuation."

The more I read the sentence, I began to realize that I understood everything except the word "attenuation" (and what the heck a nonlinear time-history looks like), so I looked it up, hoping I could figure out a way to throw it into a normal conversation and enjoy the funny looks I know I'd get in response.

Turns out, it's not really a technical word at all (or, not exclusively, anyway) and it might just be my new favorite word.

at·ten·u·ate (v. tr.)

1. To make slender, fine, or small: The drought attenuated the river to a narrow channel.
2. To reduce in force, value, amount, or degree; weaken: Medicine attentuated the fever's effect.
3. To lessen the density of; rarefy.
4. Biology. To make (bacteria or viruses) less virulent.
5. Electronics. To reduce (the amplitude of an electrical signal) with little or no distortion.

Isn't it great!? I wonder why people don't use it more often!

Author's note: I realize this material is a bit dry for a Friday, so if you want a good chuckle, head on over to Laurie's corner of the world wide web and look for her weekly installment of the "friday funnies" for a good laugh.