propitiatory
1
9.9
- adjective
- /prəˈpɪʃiˌeɪtɔri/
- Formal
:
propiciatorio
- To appease the spirit of the forest, they set out a propitiatory offering of fruits and flowers near the ancient tree.
Examples
-
She approached him with a propitiatory gesture, hoping to mend their friendship after their recent argument.
-
The villagers performed a propitiatory dance to celebrate the harvest and seek favor from the gods for a good season.
-
He lifted a propitiatory hand.
Fiction book (1998) -
She had come towards him with an expression that contained both shyness and something propitiatory.
Fiction book (2000) -
Particular significance was attached to saltcellars, for salt, though a basic ingredient in medieval cooking, also had propitiatory associations.
Academic text (2001) -
Such discrete propitiatory media as candles, flowers, and exvotos came to serve the needs of the orichas.
Academic text (1993) -
From December to January, in the dry season, members of the Lefem society undertake propitiatory liturgies and sacrifices, tua ala, to make the earth fertile and to bring blessings to the village.
Academic text (1990) -
As representatives of God on earth and mediators between the natural and supernatural realms, chiefs conduct propitiatory ceremonies commemorating the achievements of the founders of their lineages: the past fuses with the present to work in harmony toward an auspicious future.
Academic text (1999)
Synonyms
1
9.9
Made to show someone is sorry and to make up for a wrong
Made to calm someone and gain their favor
That removes guilt after someone does something wrong
Meant to calm someone by saying or doing things to please them
Trying to calm someone by giving them what they want
Trying to calm someone by giving them what they want
Antonyms
How Appeasing
Surface Forms
Morphology
propitiatory = propitiate (transparent) = propitiate + ory
Formed by a regular adjective-forming suffix on the verb 'propitiate', producing an adjective meaning 'serving to propitiate/appease'.
Etymology
Propitiatory comes from the Latin word propitius, which means 'favourable' and shares the same root as the English word propitious. So a propitiatory gift or act is meant to make someone 'favourable' to you, to calm their anger or win their favour.