# palliate

> English word · Verb · IPA /ˈpælieɪt/

## Definitions
1. To relieve the symptoms of; to ameliorate.
2. To hide or disguise.
3. To cover or disguise the seriousness of (a mistake, offence etc.) by excuses and apologies.
4. To lessen the severity of; to extenuate, moderate, qualify.
5. To placate or mollify.
6. past participle of palliate (all senses)

## Etymology
The verb was inherited from Middle English palliaten (“To palliate (a disease), relieve the symptoms of (a patient); to extenuate (an offense); to conceal, hide”), the adjective and participle from its participle palliat(e); further borrowed either from Middle French pallier or directly from Latin palliātus, perfect passive participle of palliō (“to cover with a cloak”)), from pallium (“a cloak”), see -ate (verb-forming suffix) and -ate (adjective-forming suffix).

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/palliate