Webster's English Dictionary

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pacify

pac.i.fy \'pas-*-.fi-\ vt [ME pacifien, fr. L pacificare, fr. pac-, pax 
   peace] 1a: to allay anger or agitation in  1b: APPEASE, PROPITIATE  2a: to 
   restore to a tranquil state : SETTLE  2b: to reduce to a submissive state : 
   SUBDUE NCILIATE: PACIFY suggests a soothing or calming of anger or 
   agitation or the forceful quelling of insurrection; APPEASE implies 
   quieting insistent demands by making concessions; PLACATE suggests changing 
   resentment or bitterness to goodwill; MOLLIFY implies soothing hurt 
   feelings or rising anger; PROPITIATE implies averting anger or malevolence 
   esp. of a superior being; CONCILIATE suggests ending an estrangement by 
   persuasion, concession, or settling of differences SYN syn APPEASE, 
   PLACATE, MOLLIFY, PROPITIATE, CO