palliate

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English [edit]

Etymology [edit]

From Latin palliatus (cloaked) (in Late Latin the past participle of palliare (to cover with a cloak)), from pallium (cloak).

Pronunciation [edit]

  • (UK) IPA: /ˈpalɪeɪt/ (verb)
  • (US) IPA: /ˈpæl.i.eɪt/ (verb)
  • (file)

Adjective [edit]

palliate (comparative more palliate, superlative most palliate)

  1. (obsolete) Cloaked; hidden, concealed. [15th-17th c.]
    (Can we find and add a quotation of Bishop Hall to this entry?)
  2. (obsolete) Eased; mitigated; alleviated.
    (Can we find and add a quotation of Bishop Fell to this entry?)

Verb [edit]

palliate (third-person singular simple present palliates, present participle palliating, simple past and past participle palliated)

  1. 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.
  2. (obsolete) To hide or disguise. [16th-19th c.]
  3. To cover or disguise the seriousness of (a mistake, offence etc.) by excuses and apologies. [from 17th c.]
  4. (obsolete) To lessen the severity of; to extenuate, moderate, qualify. [17th-18th c.]
  5. 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).

Related terms [edit]

Translations [edit]

References [edit]

  • Paternoster, Lewis M. and Frager-Stone, Ruth. Three Dimensions of Vocabulary Growth. Second Edition. Amsco School Publications: USA. 1998.

Latin [edit]

Adjective [edit]

palliāte

  1. vocative masculine singular of palliātus