Propitiate
/prəˈpɪʃ.i.eɪt/noun
To win over or regain favor by making amends, appeasing anger, or offering something pleasing.
Did you know?Propitiate comes from Latin religious language, where making someone “favorable” could mean smoothing over the wrath of a deity with offerings and rites.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*per-
“to bring forth, produce, or bring to completion”
Latin
Latin
prope
“near, in front of, or toward”
Latin
Latin
propius
“nearer; more favorable”
Latin
Latin
propitiare
“to make favorable; to win over, appease”
Late Latin
Latin
propitiatus
“appeased, made favorable”
Middle English
English
propiciaten
“to appease or make favorable”
Modern English
English
propitiate
“to win over by kindness, offerings, or apologies”