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Definition of pacific - 5 dictionary results

pa⋅cif⋅ic

[puh-sif-ik]
–adjective
1. tending to make or preserve peace; conciliatory: pacific overtures.
2. not warlike; peaceable; mild: a pacific disposition.
3. at peace; peaceful: a pacific era in history.
4. calm; tranquil: The Wabash is a pacific river.
5. (initial capital letter) of or pertaining to the Pacific Ocean.
6. (initial capital letter) of or pertaining to the region bordering on the Pacific Ocean: the Pacific states.
–noun (initial capital letter)
7. Pacific Ocean.
8. a steam locomotive having a four-wheeled front truck, six driving wheels, and a two-wheeled rear truck.


Origin:
1540–50; < L pācificus lit., peacemaking, equiv. to pāci- (comb. form of pāx) peace + -ficus -fic
pa·cif·ic   (pə-sĭf'ĭk)   
adj.  
  1. Tending to diminish or put an end to conflict; appeasing.
  2. Of a peaceful nature; tranquil.

[French pacifique, from Old French pacifice, from Latin pācificus : pāx, pāc-, peace; see pag- in Indo-European roots + -ficus, -fic.]
pa·cif'i·cal·ly adv.
Pa·cif·ic   (pə-sĭf'ĭk)   
n.  The Pacific Ocean.
adj.  
  1. Of, in, or near the Pacific Ocean.
  2. Of, on, or near the western coast of the United States.
  3. Of or concerning countries bordering the Pacific Ocean, especially those of Asia and North America.

Pacific

Pa*cif"ic\, a. [L. pacificus: cf. F. pacifique. See Pacify.] Of or pertaining to peace; suited to make or restore peace; of a peaceful character; not warlike; not quarrelsome; conciliatory; as, pacific words or acts; a pacific nature or condition.

Pacific Ocean, the ocean between America and Asia, so called by Magellan, its first European navigator, on account of the exemption from violent tempests which he enjoyed while sailing over it; -- called also, simply, the Pacific, and, formerly, the South sea.

Syn: Peacemaking; appeasing; conciliatory; tranquil; calm; quiet; peaceful; reconciling; mild; gentle.

pacific 
1548, "tending to make peace," from M.Fr. pacifique, from L. pacificus "peaceful, peace-making," from pax (gen. pacis) "peace" + root of facere "to make" (see factitious). Meaning "peaceful, calm" is first recorded 1633. The Pacific Ocean (1660) is from M.L. Pacificum, neut. of L. pacificus, so called c.1500 by Magellan when he sailed into it and found it calmer than the stormy Atlantic.
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