placatory

[pley-kuh-tawr-ee, -tohr-ee, plak-uh-]

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adjective

serving, tending, or intended to placate: a placatory reply.

Origin of placatory

From the Late Latin word plācātōrius, dating back to 1630–40. See placate¹, -tory¹

Related formsun·pla·ca·to·ry, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Related Words for placatory

steady, smooth, quiet, neutral, harmonious, calm, nonviolent, tranquil, bloodless, amicable, placid, friendly, peaceable, conciliatory, diplomatic, gentle, serene, untroubled, peacemaking, collected

Examples from the Web for placatory

Historical Examples of placatory

Mary looked astonished, then alarmed, then placatory and uneasy.
The Tunnel Under The World
Frederik Pohl
The answer was neither antagonistic nor placatory; it was merely colorless.
The Taming of Red Butte Western
Francis Lynde
"That's all right, old chap, you just rest up a bit," said the placatory youth.
Never-Fail Blake
Arthur Stringer
They were all placatory—in every case the object was to bring men into friendly relations with the god.
Introduction to the History of Religions
Crawford Howell Toy
"She's so excited over Kate's coming home," said Mrs. Barrington with a placatory smile.
The Precipice
Elia Wilkinson Peattie

British Dictionary definitions for placatory

placatory

less commonly placative (pləˈkeɪtɪv, ˈplækətɪv)

adjective

placating or intended to placate

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 placatory

adj.

1630s, from Latin placatorius "pertaining to appeasing," from placat-, past participle stem of placare "to appease" (see placate).