The word "appease" is spelled with three vowels, but its pronunciation might seem to suggest otherwise. When spoken, the word is pronounced /əˈpiːz/, with a long "e" instead of the expected long "a". This is because the second "e" in the word is silent, causing the preceding "a" to take on the sound of a long "e". The word means to calm or pacify someone or something, and is commonly used in the context of conflict resolution or appeasing an angry person or group.
The word "appease" is a verb that is used to describe the act of pacifying, calming, or satisfying someone or a group in order to make them more content or to prevent further conflict or problems. Appease carries the notion of reducing anger or agitation by meeting demands or making concessions.
To appease is to make an effort to please or meet the desires and wishes of others, often by offering compromises or concessions to bring about a sense of satisfaction or harmony. This can involve various actions, such as granting requests, providing reassurance, or giving into demands, with the aim of achieving peace, reconciliation, or overall contentment.
Appeasement can be employed in interpersonal relationships to alleviate tension or in diplomatic scenarios to avoid conflicts between nations. It entails offering concessions or compromises to maintain stability, promote understanding, or prevent hostile actions. However, it is important to note that appeasement can also carry negative connotations, particularly when it involves granting unreasonable or unjust demands or actions that compromise ethics or principles.
In summary, the act of appeasing involves placating or calming someone by meeting their demands or desires, usually to avoid conflict or enhance harmony. It often involves making compromises or concessions to alleviate or resolve tensions.
To quiet; to pacify.
Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.
* The statistics data for these misspellings percentages are collected from over 15,411,110 spell check sessions on www.spellchecker.net from Jan 2010 - Jun 2012.
The word "appease" has its roots in Middle English and Old French. It ultimately comes from the Latin word "appacare", which means "to pacify" or "to reconcile". This Latin term is a combination of "ad" (meaning "to") and "pacare" (meaning "to calm" or "to awe").