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Definition of placates - 3 dictionary results

pla⋅cate

1  [pley-keyt, plak-eyt]
Use placates in a Sentence
–verb (used with object), -cat⋅ed, -cat⋅ing.
to appease or pacify, esp. by concessions or conciliatory gestures: to placate an outraged citizenry.
Origin:
1670–80; < L plācātus ptp. of plācāre to quiet, calm, appease, akin to placēre to please; see -ate 1

Related forms:
pla⋅cat⋅er, noun
pla⋅ca⋅tion  [pley-key-shuhn] , noun

Synonyms:
conciliate, satisfy.

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 esp. as a reinforcement over a breastplate.
Also, placard, placcate, plackart.

Origin:
1625–35; appar. var. of placard
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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pla·cate   (plā'kāt', plāk'āt')   
tr.v.   pla·cat·ed, pla·cat·ing, pla·cates
To allay the anger of, especially by making concessions; appease. See Synonyms at pacify.

[Latin plācāre, plācāt-, to calm; see plāk-1 in Indo-European roots.]
pla'cat'er n., pla·ca'tion (plā-kā'shən) n., pla'ca·to'ry (-tôr'ē, -tōr'ē), pla'ca'tive (-kā'tĭv) adj.
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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