Pacify

GRE 蓝宝 Barron

[编辑] 解释

transitive verb (-fied; -fying)

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>
? pacifiable 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>.