assuage

views updated May 21 2018

as·suage / əˈswāj/ • v. [tr.] make (an unpleasant feeling) less intense: the letter assuaged the fears of most members. ∎  satisfy (an appetite or desire): an opportunity occurred to assuage her desire for knowledge.DERIVATIVES: as·suage·ment n.ORIGIN: Middle English: from Old French assouagier, asouagier, based on Latin ad- ‘to’ (expressing change) + suavis ‘sweet.’

The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English

assuage

views updated Jun 27 2018

assuage XIV. —' OF. asso(u)agier :- Rom. *assuāviāre, f. AS- + L. suāvis SWEET.

The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology T. F. HOAD

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