Palliate

Pronunciation

UK IPA: /ËˆpalÉªeÉªt/ (verb)
US IPA: /ËˆpÃ¦l.i.eÉªt/ (verb)

Origin

From Latin palliatus ("cloaked") (in Late Latin the past participle of palliare ("to cover with a cloak")), from pallium ("cloak").

Full definition of palliate

Adjective

palliate

(obsolete) Cloaked; hidden, concealed. 15th-17th c.
(obsolete) Eased; mitigated; alleviated.

Verb

To relieve the symptoms of; to ameliorate. from 15th c.

2009, Boris Johnson, The Evening Standard, 15 Jan 09:And if there are some bankers out there who are still embarrassed by the size of their bonuses, then I propose that they palliate their guilt by giving to the Mayor's Fund for London to help deprived children in London.

(obsolete) To hide or disguise. 16th-19th c.
To cover or disguise the seriousness of (a mistake, offence etc.) by excuses and apologies. from 17th c.
(obsolete) To lessen the severity of; to extenuate, moderate, qualify. 17th-18th c.
To placate or mollify. from 17th c.

2007, "Looking towards a Brown future", The Guardian, 25 Jan 07:Brown's options for the machinery of Whitehall are constrained, as for all prime ministers, by the need to palliate allies and hug enemies close (John Reid, say).

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