palliate
Definition from Wiktionary, the free dictionary
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[edit] English
[edit] Etymology
From Latin palliatus (“cloaked”) (in Late Latin the past participle of palliare (“to cover with a cloak”)), from pallium (“cloak”).
[edit] Pronunciation
[edit] Adjective
palliate (comparative more palliate, superlative most palliate)
[edit] Verb
palliate (third-person singular simple present palliates, present participle palliating, simple past and past participle palliated)
- To relieve the symptoms of; to ameliorate. [from 15th c.]
- 2009, Boris Johnson, The Evening Standard, 15 Jan 09:
- And if there are some bankers out there who are still embarrassed by the size of their bonuses, then I propose that they palliate their guilt by giving to the Mayor's Fund for London to help deprived children in London.
- 2009, Boris Johnson, The Evening Standard, 15 Jan 09:
- (obsolete) To hide or disguise. [16th-19th c.]
- To cover or disguise the seriousness of (a mistake, offence etc.) by excuses and apologies. [from 17th c.]
- (obsolete) To lessen the severity of; to extenuate, moderate, qualify. [17th-18th c.]
- To placate or mollify. [from 17th c.]
- 2007, "Looking towards a Brown future", The Guardian, 25 Jan 07:
- Brown's options for the machinery of Whitehall are constrained, as for all prime ministers, by the need to palliate allies and hug enemies close (John Reid, say).
- 2007, "Looking towards a Brown future", The Guardian, 25 Jan 07:
[edit] Related terms
[edit] Translations
to relieve the symptoms of
obsolete: to hide or disguise
to cover or disguise the seriousness of something by excuses and apologies
obsolete: to lessen the severity of
[edit] References
- Paternoster, Lewis M. and Frager-Stone, Ruth. Three Dimensions of Vocabulary Growth. Second Edition. Amsco School Publications: USA. 1998.
[edit] Latin
[edit] Adjective
palliāte
- vocative masculine singular of palliātus
