asswaging
|as-suage|
/əˈsweɪdʒ/
(asswage)
make less severe; soothe
Etymology
'asswage' (and thus 'asswaging') is an alternative/archaic spelling related to 'assuage.' 'Assuage' originates from Old French 'assouagier' (also spelled 'assoagier' or 'asouagier'), ultimately from Latin root 'suavis' meaning 'sweet'.
'assuage' developed from Old French 'assouagier' into Middle English (forms such as 'asswage' and 'asswage(n)') and eventually standardized as modern English 'assuage'; 'asswage' survived as a variant/archaic spelling in some texts.
Originally it carried a sense related to 'making sweet' or 'softening' derived from 'suavis'; over time this evolved into the general sense 'to make less severe, to relieve or soothe', which persists in modern usage.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Verb 1
present participle of 'asswage' (an alternative/archaic spelling of 'assuage'): acting to make something less intense or severe; relieving or soothing.
She spent the afternoon asswaging his worries with calm, patient explanations.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Verb 2
used attributively or adjectivally to describe something that is in the process of being made less severe (e.g., an asswaging effect).
The asswaging effect of the balm was obvious within minutes.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Last updated: 2025/11/05 08:44