First Known Use: 15th century
Dictionary
pacify
verb pac·i·fy \ˈpa-sə-ˌfī\
: to cause (someone who is angry or upset) to become calm or quiet
: to cause or force (a country, a violent group of people, etc.) to become peaceful
pac·i·fiedpac·i·fy·ing
Full Definition of PACIFY
transitive verb
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>
— pac·i·fi·able \ˌpa-sə-ˈfī-ə-bəl\ adjective
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Origin of PACIFY
Middle English pacifien, from Anglo-French pacifier, from Latin pacificare, from pac-, pax peace
Related to PACIFY
Synonym Discussion of PACIFY
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>.
PACIFY Defined for Kids
pacify
verb pac·i·fy \ˈpa-sə-ˌfī\
pac·i·fiedpac·i·fy·ing
Definition of PACIFY for Kids
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