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   palliate

   /ˈpalɪeɪt/

   verb

   • 1. make (a disease or its symptoms) less severe without removing the cause: "treatment works by palliating symptoms" Similar alleviateeaserelievesoothetake the edge offassuageallaydullsoftenlessenmoderatetempermitigatediminishdecreasebluntdeadenabaterare:lenify
   • 2. disguise the seriousness of (an offence): "there is no way to excuse or palliate his dirty deed" Similar disguisehidegloss overconcealwhitewashcovercover upcamouflagecloakmaskpaper overvarnish overexcusejustifyextenuateminimizemitigatemake light oftone downplay downdownplay
   • ▪ allay or moderate (fears or suspicions): "this eliminated, or at least palliated, suspicions aroused by German unity"

   Word Origin late Middle English: from late Latin palliat- ‘cloaked’, from the verb palliare, from pallium ‘cloak’.

   Derivatives

   • 1. palliation noun
   • 2. palliator noun

   Scrabble Points: 10

   • P

     3

   • A

     1

   • L

     1

   • L

     1

   • I

     1

   • A

     1

   • T

     1

   • E

     1

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