pacifications
|pac-i-fi-ca-tion-s|
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/ˌpæsɪfɪˈkeɪʃənz/
🇬🇧
/ˌpæsɪfɪˈkeɪʃ(ə)nz/
(pacification)
making peace (or forcing peace)
Etymology
'pacification' originates from French, specifically the word 'pacification', where the element 'pac-' ultimately comes from Latin 'pax' meaning 'peace' and the element related to 'fac-' comes from Latin 'facere' meaning 'to make'.
'pacification' changed from Medieval Latin 'pacificatio' and Old French 'pacification' and eventually entered modern English as 'pacification' (via Middle English/early modern borrowings from French).
Initially it meant 'the act of making peace' but over time it also acquired the sense of 'the suppression of opposition or unrest, often by force', in addition to neutral senses of reconciliation.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
the act or process of making peace; reconciliation or the establishment of peaceful relations.
The pacifications after the peace talks helped restore trade between the two regions.
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Noun 2
the suppression or quelling of unrest, rebellion, or opposition, often by forceful or coercive means.
The colonial pacifications were criticized for relying on military force rather than addressing local grievances.
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Last updated: 2025/12/20 12:53