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assuage (v.)

"soften, alleviate," usually figuratively, of pain, anger, passion, grief, etc., c. 1300, from Anglo-French assuager, Old French assoagier "soften, moderate, alleviate, calm, soothe, pacify," from Vulgar Latin *adsuaviare, from Latin ad "to" (see ad-) + suavis "sweet, agreeable" (from PIE root *swād- "sweet, pleasant;" see sweet (adj.)).

In Middle English very common as swage, a shortened form, also in part from Anglo-French suager, a variant of Old French soagier. For sound development in French, compare deluge from Latin diluvium, abridge from abbreviare. Related: Assuaged; assuaging.

also from c. 1300
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Trends of assuage

updated on November 05, 2023

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