Definition of propitiate
propitiated
;propitiating
transitive verb
: to gain or regain the favor or goodwill of : appease
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Examples of propitiate in a Sentence
He made an offering to propitiate the angry gods.
the temple was once the site of sacrifices—both to honor the gods in times of plenty and to propitiate them in times of trouble
Did You Know?
Like its synonym "appease," propitiate means "to ease the anger or disturbance of," but there are subtle differences between the two terms as well. "Appease" usually implies quieting insistent demands by making concessions, whereas "propitiate" tends to suggest averting the anger or malevolence of a superior being. In fact, "propitiate" often occurs - as in our first example sentence - in contexts involving deities, spirits, or other preternatural forces. You might "appease" your hunger, but to speak more colorfully, you could "propitiate the gods of hunger."
Origin and Etymology of propitiate
Latin propitiatus, past participle of propitiare, from propitius propitious
First Known Use: 1583
Synonym Discussion of propitiate
PROPITIATE Defined for English Language Learners
propitiate
playDefinition of propitiate for English Language Learners
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: to make (someone) pleased or less angry by giving or saying something desired
Learn More about propitiate
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See words that rhyme with propitiate Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for propitiate Spanish Central: Translation of propitiate Nglish: Translation of propitiate for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of propitiate for Arabic speakers
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