assuagement
|as-suage-ment|
/əˈsweɪdʒmənt/
(assuage)
able to be eased
Etymology
'assuagement' originates from Old French, specifically the verb 'assouagier' (to soften, make sweet), ultimately from Latin 'suavis', where 'suavis' meant 'sweet'. The modern noun was formed by adding the suffix '-ment' to the verb stem.
'assuagement' changed from Old French 'assouagier' to Middle English forms such as 'asswage'/'assuage' and eventually became the modern English noun 'assuagement' with the addition of '-ment'.
Initially, it meant 'to make sweet or soften', but over time it evolved into its current meaning of 'to make less severe; to relieve or mitigate'.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
the action or process of making an unpleasant feeling less intense; relief or soothing (e.g., of pain, grief, or anxiety).
The assuagement of her grief took time, but small comforts helped.
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Noun 2
the reduction in severity or degree of something harmful or unpleasant (e.g., mitigation of symptoms, punishment, or hostility).
The policy change led to the assuagement of tensions between the groups.
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Last updated: 2025/11/04 19:40