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peace

[pees]

noun

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

(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.

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

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.

cessation of or freedom from any strife or dissension.

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

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

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

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

10.

(initial capital letter, italics

) a comedy (421 b.c.) by Aristophanes.

COLLAPSE

interjection

11.

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

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Peace is one of our favorite verbs.

So is absquatulate. Does it mean:

to flee; abscond:

to chew (food) slowly and thoroughly.

LEARN MORE FUN, UNUSUAL VERBS WITH WORD DYNAMO...

verb (used without object)

12.

Obsolete. to be or become silent.

Idioms

13.

at peace,

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

untroubled; tranquil; content.

deceased.

14.

hold

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; Middle English pes < Old French, variant of pais < Latin pax (stem pāc-); akin to pact

Related forms

peace·less, adjective

peace·less·ness, noun

peace·like, adjective

non·peace, noun

self-peace, noun

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sem·i·peace, noun

COLLAPSE

Can be confused: peace, piece.

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

Antonyms
6. insecurity, disturbance.

Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2012.
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Link To peace

Example Sentences

This quiet cinematic journey tells a of tale grief, solace and peace.

She greatly deserves to rest in peace.

Take peace! The gloom of the world is but a shadow.

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Collins

World English Dictionary

peace (piːs)

—n
1.	a. the state existing during the absence of war
	b. (as modifier): peace negotiations
2.	(modifier) denoting a person or thing symbolizing support for international peace: peace women
3.	(often capital) a treaty marking the end of a war
4.	a state of harmony between people or groups; freedom from strife
5.	law and order within a state; absence of violence or other disturbance: a breach of the peace
6.	absence of mental anxiety (often in the phrase peace of mind)
7.	a state of stillness, silence, or serenity
8.	at peace
	a. in a state of harmony or friendship
	b. in a state of serenity
	c. dead: the old lady is at peace now
9.	hold one's peace, keep one's peace to keep silent
10.	keep the peace to maintain or refrain from disturbing law and order
11.	make one's peace with to become reconciled with
12.	make peace to bring hostilities to an end

—vb
13.	obsolete chiefly (intr) to be or become silent or still

[C12: from Old French pais, from Latin pāx]

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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Etymonline

Word Origin & History

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

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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 c.1300. 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).

COLLAPSE

American Heritage

Idioms & Phrases

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.