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Definition of pacify - 4 dictionary results

pac⋅i⋅fy

  [pas-uh-fahy]
Use pacify in a Sentence
–verb (used with object), -fied, -fy⋅ing.
1. to bring or restore to a state of peace or tranquillity; quiet; calm: to pacify an angry man.
2. to appease: to pacify one's appetite.
3. to reduce to a state of submission, esp. by military force; subdue.
Origin:
1425–75; late ME < L pācificāre to make peace. See pacific, -fy

Related forms:
pac⋅i⋅fi⋅a⋅ble, adjective
pac⋅i⋅fy⋅ing⋅ly, adverb

Synonyms:
2. soothe, mollify, assuage.

Antonyms:
2. anger, enrage.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To pacify
pac·i·fy   (pās'ə-fī')   
tr.v.   pac·i·fied, pac·i·fy·ing, pac·i·fies
  1. To ease the anger or agitation of.
  2. To end war, fighting, or violence in; establish peace in.

[Middle English pacifien, from Old French pacifier, from Latin pācificāre : pāx, pāc-, peace; see pag- in Indo-European roots + -ficāre, -fy.]
pac'i·fi'a·ble adj.
Synonyms: These verbs refer to allaying another's anger, belligerence, discontent, or agitation. To pacify is to restore calm to or establish peace in: "The explanation . . . was merely an invention framed to pacify his guests" (Charlotte Brontë). An army was required in order to pacify the islands.
Mollify stresses the soothing of hostile feelings: The therapist mollified the angry teenager by speaking gently.
Conciliate implies winning over, often by reasoning and with mutual concessions: "A wise government knows how to enforce with temper or to conciliate with dignity" (George Grenville).
Appease and placate suggest satisfying claims or demands or tempering antagonism, often by granting concessions: I appeased my friend's anger with a compliment. A sincere apology placated the indignant customer.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Pacify

Pac"i*fy\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Pacified; p. pr. & vb. n. Pacifying.] [F. pacifier, L. pacificare; pax, pacis, peace + -ficare (in comp.) to make. See Peace, and -fy.] To make to be at peace; to appease; to calm; to still; to quiet; to allay the agitation, excitement, or resentment of; to tranquillize; as, to pacify a man when angry; to pacify pride, appetite, or importunity. "Pray ye, pacify yourself." --Shak.

To pacify and settle those countries. --Bacon.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.
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Language Translation for : pacify
Spanish: apaciguar, calmar,
German: beschwichtigen,
Japanese: なだめる
More Translations »

pacify 
1460, from M.Fr. pacifier, from O.Fr., "make peace," from L. pacificare "to make peace, pacify," from pacificus (see pacific). Pacifier "one who pacifies or appeases" is first recorded 1533; the meaning "nipple-shaped device for babies" is first recorded 1904.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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