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placid

[plas-id]
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adjective
  1. pleasantly calm or peaceful; unruffled; tranquil; serenely quiet or undisturbed: placid waters.
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Origin of placid

1620–30; < Latin placidus calm, quiet, akin to placēre to please (orig., to calm); see -id4
Related formspla·cid·i·ty [pluh-sid-i-tee] /pləˈsɪd ɪ ti/, plac·id·ness, nounplac·id·ly, adverbun·plac·id, adjectiveun·plac·id·ly, adverbun·plac·id·ness, noun

Synonyms

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

Related Words

placidnessdoldrumsquietudedispassionimpassivitytranquilitypeacefulnesspeacequietreposestoicismhushpatiencestillnesscalmnessserenitytranquillityrestraintrestsilence

Examples from the Web for placidity

Historical Examples

  • His usually placid, gentle face had lost some of its placidity.

    Mary-'Gusta

    Joseph C. Lincoln

  • It's difficult to give you an adequate idea of Davidson's placidity.

    Victory

    Joseph Conrad

  • That placidity of hers gave her the air of being as relentless as a Fate.

    Mary Gray

    Katharine Tynan

  • "In a position which I no longer occupy," he amended, recovering his placidity.

    Tristram of Blent

    Anthony Hope

  • Her face was flushed; indignation disturbed the placidity of her eyes.

    Trail's End

    George W. Ogden

British Dictionary definitions for placidity

placid

adjective
  1. having a calm appearance or nature
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Derived Formsplacidity (pləˈsɪdɪtɪ) or placidness, nounplacidly, adverb

Word Origin

C17: from Latin placidus peaceful; related to placēre to please
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 placidity

n.

1610s, from Latin placiditatem (nominative placiditas), from placidus (see placid).

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placid

adj.

1620s, from French placide (15c.) and directly from Latin placidus "pleasing, peaceful, quiet, gentle, still, calm," from placere "to please" (see please). Related: Placidly; placidness.

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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper