placation

English

Etymology

From Latin placatio.

Pronunciation

• Rhymes: -eɪʃən

Noun

placation (countable and uncountable, plural placations)

1. A process or act of placating; appeasement or an expression of appeasement.
   • 1888, "Manners and meals," Science, vol. 12, no. 283, p. 3:

     The refusal, at certain times and seasons, of food that in itself is hygienically good and palatable, in placation of a deity, or, without further explanation, to avoid bad luck, is well known among the lower tribes of men.

   • 1917, Jack London, Jerry of the Islands, ch. 7:

     Instead, Jerry was all placation and appeal, all softness of pleading.

   • 2006, Dan DeWalt, "Impeachment is too important to leave to the Democrats," OpEdNews.com, 14 May (retrieved 8 Aug. 2009):

     While these political sellout artists have been intoning their mind numbing placations, citizens across the nation have been speaking and acting.

Derived terms

• placative, placatory

Anagrams

• Pactolian, pactional