Palliative
/ˈpæl.i.ə.tɪv/noun
Relieving symptoms without curing the underlying cause.
Did you know?Palliative comes from Latin *palliātivus*, from *palliare* meaning “to cloak” or “to cover with a mantle,” so its oldest sense is literally about masking or softening what’s underneath.
Etymological Timeline
Latin
Latin
pallium
“a cloak or mantle”
Classical Latin
Latin
palliare
“to cloak, cover, or disguise”
Late Latin
Latin
palliātivus
“serving to cloak or alleviate”
14th Century
Old French/English
palliatif
“relieving symptoms or softening an offense”
Modern English
English
palliative
“relieving pain or symptoms without curing the cause”
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