Question

propitiate verb 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 -- as in our first example sentence -- 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." : to gain or regain the favor or goodwill of : appease, conciliate

Accepted Answer

November 14, 2010 proh-PISH-ee-ayt The fans of the hard-luck baseball team wondered openly how to propitiate the gods of fate after yet another heartbreaking defeat.  "Surely neither the Bush nor the Obama administrations intended consciously to act in the interests of bankers rather than those of the public. But under the logic of the bailout, the markets were in charge, and the overarching aim of the government was to propitiate them to avoid disaster." -- From an article by Noah Feldman in New York Times Magazine, June 27, 2010

Word	propitiate
Date	November 14, 2010
Type	verb
Syllables	proh-PISH-ee-ayt
Etymology	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 -- as in our first example sentence -- 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."
Examples	The fans of the hard-luck baseball team wondered openly how to propitiate the gods of fate after yet another heartbreaking defeat. "Surely neither the Bush nor the Obama administrations intended consciously to act in the interests of bankers rather than those of the public. But under the logic of the bailout, the markets were in charge, and the overarching aim of the government was to propitiate them to avoid disaster." -- From an article by Noah Feldman in New York Times Magazine, June 27, 2010
Definition	: to gain or regain the favor or goodwill of : appease, conciliate

Propitiate Anger Appease Gods November Verb Proh Pish Ee Ayt Synonym