definitions

palliate

[ pal-ee-eyt ]
/ ˈpæl iˌeɪt /
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verb (used with object), pal·li·at·ed, pal·li·at·ing.

to relieve or lessen without curing; mitigate; alleviate.
to try to mitigate or conceal the gravity of (an offense) by excuses, apologies, etc.; extenuate.

RELATED WORDS

comfort, help, alleviation, rest, sustenance, satisfaction, abatement, cure, deliverance, happiness, appeasement, solace, ease, support, refreshment, balm, mitigation, amelioration, maintenance, assistance

Nearby words

palleted, palletize, pallette, pallial, palliasse, palliate, palliative, palliative care, palliative treatment, pallid, pallidal

Origin of palliate

First recorded in 1540–50, palliate is from the Late Latin word palliātus cloaked, covered. See pallium, -ate1

Related forms

pal·li·a·tion, nounpal·li·a·tor, nounnon·pal·li·a·tion, nounun·pal·li·at·ed, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for palliation

British Dictionary definitions for palliation

palliate

/ (ˈpælɪˌeɪt) /

verb (tr)

to lessen the severity of (pain, disease, etc) without curing or removing; alleviate; mitigate
to cause (an offence) to seem less serious by concealing evidence; extenuate

Derived Forms

palliation, nounpalliator, noun

Word Origin for palliate

C16: from Late Latin palliāre to cover up, from Latin pallium a cloak, pallium
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

Medicine definitions for palliation

palliate

[ păl′ē-āt′ ]

v.

To reduce the severity of; to relieve somewhat.
The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.