/pləˈkeɪt/ 或 /ˈpleɪkeɪt/
使平息,安抚;通过让步或迎合来平息某人的愤怒或不满。
She brought him a cup of tea to placate him after the argument.
争吵之后,她给他端了杯茶来安抚他。
The government offered several policy concessions in an attempt to placate the growing discontent among the public.
政府提出了几项政策让步,试图平息公众日益增长的不满情绪。
该词源自拉丁语 placare,意为"使平静、安抚",与 placidus(平静的)同根。16世纪经由拉丁语过去分词 placatus 进入英语,保留了"通过让步来消除怒气"的核心含义。