conciliate

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verb con·cil·i·ate \kən-ˈsi-lē-ˌāt\

Definition of conciliate

conciliated

;

conciliating

transitive verb
1 : to gain (something, such as goodwill) by pleasing acts
2 : to make compatible : reconcile It is hard to conciliate the views of labor and management on this point.
3 : appease … urgently counseled conciliating the peasants … — William Taubman
intransitive verb
: to become friendly or agreeable

conciliation

play \kən-ˌsi-lē-ˈā-shən\ noun

conciliative

play \kən-ˈsi-lē-ˌā-tiv\ adjective

conciliator

play \kən-ˈsi-lē-ˌā-tər\ noun

conciliatory

play \kən-ˈsil-yə-ˌtȯr-ē, -ˈsi-lē-ə-\ adjective

See conciliate defined for English-language learners

See conciliate defined for kids

conciliate was our Word of the Day on 12/26/2007. Hear the podcast!

Examples of conciliate in a Sentence

The company's attempts to conciliate the strikers have failed.
it will be hard to conciliate the views of labor and management regarding health benefits

Did You Know?

A council is "an assembly or meeting for consultation, advice, or discussion," and it is often the task of a council to conciliate opposing views. It seems fitting, therefore, that the words "council" and "conciliate" both derive from the Latin word concilium, which means "assembly" or "council." "Conciliate" comes to us from the Latin conciliatus, the past participle of the verb "conciliare" (meaning "to assemble, unite, win over"), which in turn is from "concilium." ("Council," on the other hand, derives from the Anglo-French cunseil or "cuncile," from "concilium.") Other "concilium" descendants in English include "conciliar" ("of, relating to, or issued by a council") and the rare "conciliabule" ("a clandestine meeting especially of conspirators or rebels").

Origin and Etymology of conciliate

Latin conciliatus, past participle of conciliare to assemble, unite, win over, from concilium assembly, council — more at council

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1545

See Words from the same year

Synonym Discussion of conciliate

pacify, appease, placate, mollify, propitiate, conciliate mean to ease the anger or disturbance of. pacify suggests a soothing or calming. pacified by a sincere apology appease implies quieting insistent demands by making concessions. appease their territorial ambitions placate suggests changing resentment or bitterness to goodwill. a move to placate local opposition mollify implies soothing hurt feelings or rising anger. a speech that mollified the demonstrators propitiate implies averting anger or malevolence especially of a superior being. propitiated his parents by dressing up conciliate suggests ending an estrangement by persuasion, concession, or settling of differences. conciliating the belligerent nations

CONCILIATE Defined for English Language Learners

conciliate

play

verb

Definition of conciliate for English Language Learners

: to make (someone) more friendly or less angry

CONCILIATE Defined for Kids

conciliate

play

verb con·cil·i·ate \kən-ˈsi-lē-ˌāt\

Definition of conciliate for Students

conciliated

;

conciliating

1 : to bring into agreement : reconcile It's hard to conciliate the stories of what happened.
2 : to gain or regain the goodwill or favor of She apologized to conciliate an angry friend.