propitiate
/propitiate/
Definition
- Verb:
- To make peace with; to appease or conciliate: "propitiate" means to win or regain the favor or goodwill of a person, god, or spirit by doing something to please them or to remove their anger. It involves an action intended to make someone who is angry or displeased become favorable or calm.
Usage
- The verb "propitiate" is typically used with a direct object—the entity being appeased.
- It is often used in formal, literary, or religious contexts.
- It describes a deliberate action taken to overcome hostility or displeasure.
Examples
- Verb:
- The ancient tribe would offer sacrifices to propitiate the gods of the harvest.
- He tried to propitiate his angry boss by working overtime and submitting a detailed apology.
- Diplomats attempted to propitiate the hostile nation with favorable trade terms.
Advanced Usage
- "To propitiate someone's wrath/anger": a common collocation emphasizing the goal of calming a specific strong emotion.
- The ruler built a grand temple to propitiate the people's wrath after the famine.
- The concept often implies that the subject is in a subordinate or supplicant position relative to the entity being propitiated.
Variants and Related Words
- Propitiation (n): The act of propitiating; appeasement.
- The ceremony was an act of propitiation.
- Propitious (adj): Favorably disposed; giving or indicating a good chance of success. (Note: This adjective describes a favorable condition, which is the desired of propitiation).
- The propitious weather ensured a successful voyage.
- Propitiatory (adj): Intended to propitiate.
- They made propitiatory offerings at the shrine.
Synonyms
- Appease: To bring to a state of peace or quiet.
- Conciliate: To overcome the distrust or hostility of.
- Placate: To soothe or mollify, especially by concessions.
- Mollify: To soften in feeling or temper.
Antonyms
- Antagonize: To incur the dislike of.
- Provoke: To incite to anger or resentment.
- Offend: To cause displeasure, anger, or resentment.
Related Phrases and Idioms
- While there are no common phrasal verbs with "propitiate," the concept is central to phrases like:
- "To make amends": To compensate for a wrong, which can be a way to propitiate someone.
- "To pour oil on troubled waters": To try to calm a difficult situation, similar in intent to propitiate.
Verb
-
make peace with
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