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placatory

[pley-kuh-tawr-ee, -tohr-ee, plak-uh-]
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adjective
  1. serving, tending, or intended to placate: a placatory reply.
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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. 2018

Related Words

steadysmoothquietneutralharmoniouscalmnonviolenttranquilbloodlessamicableplacidfriendlypeaceableconciliatorydiplomaticgentlesereneuntroubledpeacemakingplacatory

Examples from the Web for placatory

Historical Examples

  • 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.

  • "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.

  • "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
  1. placating or intended to placate
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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).

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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper