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conciliate

[kuh n-sil-ee-eyt]
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verb (used with object), con·cil·i·at·ed, con·cil·i·at·ing.
  1. to overcome the distrust or hostility of; placate; win over: to conciliate an angry competitor.
  2. to win or gain (goodwill, regard, or favor).
  3. to make compatible; reconcile.
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verb (used without object), con·cil·i·at·ed, con·cil·i·at·ing.
  1. to become agreeable or reconciled: Efforts to conciliate in the dispute proved fruitless.
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Origin of conciliate

1540–50; < Latin conciliātus (past participle of conciliāre to bring together, unite, equivalent to concili(um) council + -ātus -ate1
Related formscon·cil·i·a·ble [kuh n-sil-ee-uh-buh l] /kənˈsɪl i ə bəl/, adjectivecon·cil·i·at·ing·ly, adverbcon·cil·i·a·tion, nounnon·con·cil·i·at·ing, adjectivepro·con·cil·i·a·tion, adjectiveun·con·cil·i·a·ble, adjectiveun·con·cil·i·at·ed, adjectiveun·con·cil·i·at·ing, adjective

Synonym study

1. See appease.
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for conciliate

Historical Examples

  • As long as a majority was prepared, it was wasting money to conciliate any body else.

    Punchinello, Vol. 1, No. 6, May 7, 1870

    Various

  • Elkanah was unable to conciliate Peninnah, or to sooth Hannah.

  • If they had known about us, you might have felt yourself called upon to conciliate them.

    Little Dorrit

    Charles Dickens

  • Wait till you see Augustus, and I am sure he will conciliate your affections.'

  • His manner, where he wished to conciliate, was pleasing; but to me it was overbearing and unpleasant.

    Wilfrid Cumbermede

    George MacDonald

British Dictionary definitions for conciliate

conciliate

verb (tr)
  1. to overcome the hostility of; placate; win over
  2. to win or gain (favour, regard, etc), esp by making friendly overtures
  3. archaic to make compatible; reconcile
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Derived Formsconciliable, adjectiveconciliator, noun

Word Origin

C16: from Latin conciliāre to bring together, from concilium council
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for conciliate

v.

1540s, from Latin conciliatus, past participle of conciliare "to bring together, unite in feelings, make friendly," from concilium "council" (see council). Related: Conciliated; conciliating.

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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper