pla·cate

1 [pley-keyt, plak-eyt]
verb (used with object), pla·cat·ed, pla·cat·ing.
to appease or pacify, especially by concessions or conciliatory gestures: to placate an outraged citizenry.
Origin:
1670–80; < Latin plācātus past participle of plācāre to quiet, calm, appease, akin to placēre to please; see -ate1

Related forms
pla·cat·er, noun
pla·ca·tion [pley-key-shuhn] , noun
un·pla·cat·ed, adjective

Synonyms
conciliate, satisfy.
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a bitter, sharply abusive denunciation, attack, or criticism:
any external prop or support built to steady a structure by opposing its outward thrusts, esp. a projecting support built into or against the outside of a masonry wall.
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Dictionary.com Unabridged

plac·ate

2 [plak-eyt, -it] ,
noun Armor.
a piece of plate armor of the 15th to the 18th century protecting the lower part of the torso in front: used especially as a reinforcement over a breastplate.
Also, placard, plac·cate, plackart.

Origin:
1625–35; apparently variant of placard

Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
Cite This Source Link To placate
Collins
World English Dictionary
placate (pləˈkeɪt) [Click for IPA pronunciation guide]
 
—vb
(tr) to pacify or appease
 
[C17: from Latin plācāre; see placable]
 
pla'cation
 
—n

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
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Etymonline
Word Origin & History

placate
mid-15c., from L. placatus, pp. of placare "to calm, appease," related to placere (see please).
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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Example sentences
The special assignment was decided on in an effort to placate Congress.
To placate law enforcement agencies organizers promised that no sit-ins or
  civil disobedience stunts would occur.
Many of the government's proposals are sensible, but they do not go far enough
  to placate the students.
In vain he visits again the altar of Fortune, and seeks to placate her wrath.
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