| Front | propitiate \pruh-PISH-ee-eyt\ |
|---|---|
| Back | verb To make favorably inclined; appease; conciliate. [Like its synonym "appease," "propitiate" means "to ease the anger or disturbance of," but there are subtle differences between the two terms as well. "Appease" usually implies quieting insistent demands by making concessions, whereas "propitiate" tends to suggest averting the anger or malevolence of a superior being. In fact, "propitiate" often occurs in contexts involving deities, spirits, or other preternatural forces. You might "appease" your hunger, but to speak more colorfully, you could "propitiate the gods of hunger."] "The fans of the hard-luck baseball team wondered openly how to propitiate the gods of fate after yet another heartbreaking defeat." |
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