English Explanatory Dictionary

placate

English dictionary entry

Meanings

verb
  1. To calm; to bring peace to; to influence someone who was furious to the point that they become content or at least no longer irate.
adj
  1. Placid, peaceful.

Pronunciation

/pləˈkeɪt/ /pleɪˈkeɪt/ /ˈpleɪkeɪt/ en-us-placate.ogg en-au-placate.ogg

Word forms

placate placates placating placated more placate most placate

Etymology

First attested in the late 17ᵗʰ century; borrowed from Latin plācātus, perfect passive participle of plācō (“appease, placate”, literally “smooth, smoothen”) (see -ate (verb-forming suffix) and -ate (adjective-forming suffix) for more), ultimately thought to be from Proto-Indo-European *plāk- (“smooth, flat”), from *pele- (“broad, flat, plain”). Related to Latin placeō (“appease”), Old English flōh (“flat stone, chip”). More at please.

Synonyms

pacify appease assuage soothe conciliate mollify propitiate satisfy

Antonyms

enrage

Related words

implacable placable placid

Derived words

placatable placater placating placatingly placation placative placatory unplacatedn
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