PACIFY


Meaning of PACIFY in English

transcription, транскрипция: [ ˈpa-sə-ˌfī ]

transitive verb

( -fied ; -fy·ing )

Etymology: Middle English pacifien, from Anglo-French pacifier, from Latin pacificare, from pac-, pax peace

Date: 15th century

1.

a. : to allay the anger or agitation of : soothe

pacify a crying child

b. : appease , propitiate

2.

a. : to restore to a tranquil state : settle

made an attempt to pacify the commotion

b. : to reduce to a submissive state : subdue

forces moved in to pacify the country

• pac·i·fi·able ˌpa-sə-ˈfī-ə-bəl adjective

Synonyms:

pacify , appease , placate , mollify , propitiate , conciliate mean to ease the anger or disturbance of. pacify suggests a soothing or calming

pacified by a sincere apology

appease implies quieting insistent demands by making concessions

appease their territorial ambitions

placate suggests changing resentment or bitterness to goodwill

a move to placate local opposition

mollify implies soothing hurt feelings or rising anger

a speech that mollified the demonstrators

propitiate implies averting anger or malevolence especially of a superior being

propitiated his parents by dressing up

conciliate suggests ending an estrangement by persuasion, concession, or settling of differences

conciliating the belligerent nations

Merriam-Webster's Collegiate English vocabulary.      Энциклопедический словарь английского языка Merriam Webster.