propitiate
/prəˈpɪʃɪeɪt
/verb [with object]
Win or regain the favour of (a god, spirit, or person) by doing something that pleases them: the pagans thought it was important to propitiate the gods with sacrifices...
- The Samhitas are hymns addressed to gods representing the forces of nature, followed by rites and sacrifices to propitiate those gods.
- The death of Christ propitiates God, and the word ‘propitiation’ contains the thought of averting the wrath of God.
- Plotinus and Porphyry felt reserve towards participation in sacrifices to propitiate the spirits.
Synonyms
appease, placate, mollify, pacify, make peace with, conciliate, make amends to, soothe, calm, humour, win over, satisfy;
pour oil on troubled waters;
Australian square someone off
Derivatives
propitiative
propitiator
- Moreover, they regarded their coalition partners, the Kadets, as essential propitiators of the officer corps.
propitiatory
/ adjective ...- They must also offer a propitiatory sacrifice to the god worth fifteen drachmae.
- God's displeasure can only be appeased, then, if a propitiatory sacrifice is made.
- Sacred places, old dwelling sites, and cemeteries exist, but propitiatory rites are made individually.
propitiatorily
Origin
Late Middle English (as propitiation): from Latin propitiat- 'made favourable', from the verb propitiare, from propitius 'favourable, gracious' (see propitious).