'placation' originates from Latin, specifically the word 'placatio', where the root 'placare' meant 'to please, to calm'.

'placation' changed from Medieval Latin 'placationem' ( accusative of 'placatio') and Old French/Medieval French forms and eventually entered modern English as 'placation'.

Initially, it meant 'the act of appeasing or making calm', and over time it has retained that sense as 'an act or gesture intended to placate or conciliate'.