v.
Pronunciation: ə - ' sw ā j also - ' sw ā zh or - ' swäzh
Function: transitive verb
Inflected Form: as · suaged ; as · suag · ing
Etymology: Middle English aswagen, from Anglo-French asuager, from Vulgar Latin *assuaviare, from Latin ad- + suavis sweet ― more at SWEET
Date: 14th century
1 : to lessen the intensity of (something that pains or distresses) : EASE <unable to assuage their grief>
2 : PACIFY , QUIET <vainly strove ⋯ to assuage an implacable foe ― Edward Gibbon>
3 : to put an end to by satisfying : APPEASE , QUENCH < assuaging his thirst>
synonyms see RELIEVE
– as · suage · ment \ -m ə nt \ noun