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SAT GRE
外刊例句
- Once the errant boss is out or the activist campaign is over, either because it succeeded or, as in Disney’s case, the challenger is placated with concessions, the board slinks back into comforting obscurity.
一旦犯错的老板走人或维权运动结束（无论是因为它成功实现了目标，还是像迪士尼那样做出一些让步而安抚了挑战者），董事会就会再次隐入幕后，回到令人安心的默默无闻的状态。
——《经济学人》 - Many objectors sought to placate Trump and his supporters without backing his stolen-election claims.
许多反对者试图安抚特朗普及其支持者，但不支持他的选举遭窃取的主张。
——《纽约时报》
基本释义
[verb] make (someone) less angry or hostile
[动词] 使（某人）不那么愤怒或敌对
深入解读
Placate 一词逆构自名词 placation （安抚）或者源自拉丁语 placare （使平静、使安静、安抚、抚慰、缓和）的过去分词 placatus （平静的、安静的、抚慰的、温和的、平和的）。
17世纪70年代进入英语后即用作动词表示“平息、安抚、抚慰、使息怒、使和解”，主要指通过让步使某人不那么愤怒、敌对或不满，常意味着将愤恨或痛苦转化为友善（goodwill），或者说彻底或持久的缓和，比如：
- 这些让步根本没有平息他的愤怒。
The concessions did little to placate his wrath. - 为了安抚暴民，软弱的总统默许了他们的要求。
In order to placate the mob, the feeble president acquiesced to their demands.
名著用例
Belle put an eager placating hand on Melanie's arm and then hastily withdrew it.
贝尔赶紧伸出手，搭在媚兰胳臂上，想让她不要生气，但急忙又缩了回来。
出自美国作家玛格丽特·米切尔（Margaret Mitchell）创作的长篇小说《飘》（Gone with the Wind）。
同近义词
- pacify: quell the anger, agitation, or excitement of
- soothe: gently calm (a person or their feelings)
- humour: comply with the wishes of (someone) in order to keep them content, however unreasonable such wishes might be
