peace definition | Dictionary.com

peace

[pees]

noun, interjection, verb, peaced, peac⋅ing.

–noun

1.	the normal, nonwarring condition of a nation, group of nations, or the world.

2.	(often initial capital letter) an agreement or treaty between warring or antagonistic nations, groups, etc., to end hostilities and abstain from further fighting or antagonism: the Peace of Ryswick.

3.	a state of mutual harmony between people or groups, esp. in personal relations: Try to live in peace with your neighbors.

4.	the normal freedom from civil commotion and violence of a community; public order and security: He was arrested for being drunk and disturbing the peace.

5.	cessation of or freedom from any strife or dissension.

6.	freedom of the mind from annoyance, distraction, anxiety, an obsession, etc.; tranquillity; serenity.

7.	a state of tranquillity or serenity: May he rest in peace.

8.	a state or condition conducive to, proceeding from, or characterized by tranquillity: the peace of a mountain resort.

9.	silence; stillness: The cawing of a crow broke the afternoon's peace.

10.	(initial capital letter, italics) a comedy (421 b.c.) by Aristophanes.

–interjection

11.	(used to express greeting or farewell or to request quietness or silence).

–verb (used without object)

12.	Obsolete. to be or become silent.

—Idioms

13.

at peace,

a.	in a state or relationship of nonbelligerence or concord; not at war.

b.	untroubled; tranquil; content.

deceased.

14.	hold or keep one's peace, to refrain from or cease speaking; keep silent: He told her to hold her peace until he had finished.

15.	keep the peace, to maintain order; cause to refrain from creating a disturbance: Several officers of the law were on hand to keep the peace.

16.	make one's peace with, to become reconciled with: He repaired the fence he had broken and made his peace with the neighbor on whose property it stood.

17.	make peace, to ask for or arrange a cessation of hostilities or antagonism.

Origin:
1125–75; ME pes < OF, var. of pais < L pax (s. pāc-); akin to pact

Related forms:

peaceless, adjective

peace⋅less⋅ness, noun

peacelike, adjective

Synonyms:
2. armistice, truce, pact, accord. 3. rapport, concord, amity. 6. calm, quiet.

Antonyms:
6. insecurity, disturbance.

Peace River

–noun

a river in W Canada, flowing NE from the Rocky Mountains in E British Columbia through Alberta to the Slave River. 1050 mi. (1690 km) long.

Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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Link To peace

peace (pēs)

The absence of war or other hostilities.
An agreement or a treaty to end hostilities.
Freedom from quarrels and disagreement; harmonious relations: roommates living in peace with each other.
Public security and order: was arrested for disturbing the peace.
Inner contentment; serenity: peace of mind.

interj. Used as a greeting or farewell, and as a request for silence.

[Middle English pes, from Old French pais, pes, from Latin pāx, pāc-; see pax.]

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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Peace

Peace\, n. [OE. pees, pais, OF. pais, paiz, pes, F. paix, L. pax, pacis, akin to pacere, paciscere, pacisci, to make an agreement, and prob. also pangere to fasten. Cf. Appease, Fair, a., Fay, v., Fang, Pacify, Pact, Pay to requite.] A state of quiet or tranquillity; freedom from disturbance or agitation; calm; repose; specifically: (a) Exemption from, or cessation of, war with public enemies. (b) Public quiet, order, and contentment in obedience to law. (c) Exemption from, or subjection of, agitating passions; tranquillity of mind or conscience. (d) Reconciliation; agreement after variance; harmony; concord. "The eternal love and pees." --Chaucer.

Note: Peace is sometimes used as an exclamation in commanding silence, quiet, or order. "Peace! foolish woman." --Shak.

At peace, in a state of peace.

Breach of the peace. See under Breach.

Justice of the peace. See under Justice.

Peace of God. (Law) (a) A term used in wills, indictments, etc., as denoting a state of peace and good conduct. (b) (Theol.) The peace of heart which is the gift of God.

Peace offering. (a) (Jewish Antiq.) A voluntary offering to God in token of devout homage and of a sense of friendly communion with Him. (b) A gift or service offered as satisfaction to an offended person.

Peace officer, a civil officer whose duty it is to preserve the public peace, to prevent riots, etc., as a sheriff or constable.

To hold one's peace, to be silent; to refrain from speaking.

To make one's peace with, to reconcile one with, to plead one's cause with, or to become reconciled with, another. "I will make your peace with him." --Shak.

Peace

Peace\, v. t. & i. To make or become quiet; to be silent; to stop. [R.] "Peace your tattlings." --Shak.

When the thunder would not peace at my bidding. --Shak.

Language Translation for : peace

Spanish: paz,

German: der Frieden; Friedens-…,

Japanese: 平和

More Translations »

peace

1140, "freedom from civil disorder," from Anglo-Norm. pes, from O.Fr. pais (11c., Fr. paix), from L. pacem (nom. pax) "treaty of peace, tranquility, absence of war" (cf. Prov. patz, Sp. paz, It. pace), from PIE *pak- "fasten," related to pacisci "to covenant or agree" (see pact). Replaced O.E. frið, also sibb, which also meant "happiness." Modern spelling is 1500s, reflecting vowel shift. Sense in peace of mind is from c.1200. Used in various greetings from c.1300, from Biblical L. pax, Gk. eirene, which were used by translators to render Heb. shalom, properly "safety, welfare, prosperity." Sense of "quiet" is attested by 1300; meaning "absence or cessation of war or hostility" is attested from 1297. As a type of hybrid tea rose (developed 1939 in France by Francois Meilland), so called from 1944. Native American peace pipe is first recorded 1760. Peacemaker is from 1436. Phrase peace with honor first recorded 1607 (in "Coriolanus"). The Peace Corps was set up March 1, 1962. Peacenik is from 1965 (for suffix, see beatnik); an earlier equivalent was peacemonger (1808).

Main Entry: peace
Function: noun
: a state of tranquillity or quiet: as a : a state of security or order within a community provided for by law or custom peace> b : freedom from civil disturbance

peace

In addition to the idiom beginning with peace, also see at peace; hold one's tongue (peace); keep the peace; leave someone in peace; make one's peace with; make peace.

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