pacify

Everyday

1. To make someone who is angry or upset become calm and quiet. tree →
2. To bring peace to a place, often by force, ending fighting there. tree →

In the lessons

In everyday life parents pacify a crying baby; teachers pacify an angry pupil. In history, armies "pacified" lands, which often meant they defeated people by force. A baby's dummy is called a "pacifier" in the USA. Phrases: pacify a baby, try to pacify.

Examples

• Mum pacified the crying baby with a song. tree →
• He tried to pacify his sister by giving her his sweets. tree →
• Nothing could pacify the angry customer. tree →
• The dog was pacified with a biscuit. tree →
• The Roman army tried to pacify the rebel tribes. tree →
• A cuddle often pacifies a frightened child. tree →
• ‘Carry the child about the wood; perhaps that will pacify it.’ tree →

Note

Irregular spelling: pacify, pacifies, pacified (y changes to i). Related: pacifier (US for a baby's dummy), pacifist (someone against all war), Pacific Ocean (named "peaceful"). In history, "pacify" can hide violence, so read carefully.

In Jewish tradition

In Proverbs a wise person can calm a king's wrath. In Isaiah, God asks whether He should calm Himself about idol worship.

Interpretation. Tradition praises those who turn away anger with wisdom and gentle words. It teaches that God is slow to anger but takes sin seriously.

Examples

• Should I pacify Myself for these things? (Prophets ISA.57.6, JPS 1917) tree →
• The wrath of a king is as messengers of death; but a wise man will pacify it. (Writings PRO.16.14, JPS 1917) tree →

Note

Irregular spelling: pacify, pacifies, pacified (y changes to i). Related: pacifier (US for a baby's dummy), pacifist (someone against all war), Pacific Ocean (named "peaceful"). In history, "pacify" can hide violence, so read carefully.