palliative
/ˈpælieɪtɪv/
Word Rarity
Rare
Frequency: Zipf frequency 3.10 in modern English
15
Scrabble Score
10
Letters
4
Syllables
7
Unique Chars
Meaning
adj
Minimising the progression of a disease and relieving undesirable symptoms for as long as possible, rather than attempting to cure the (usually incurable) disease.
noun
Something that palliates, particularly a palliative medicine.
Example Sentences
- "The radiation and chemotherapy were only palliatives."
- "Mary heard with sorrow, and fear also, of the projected journey; but the altered expression of Isabella's countenance was a great palliative—dreadful as it was that her husband should love another..."
Etymology
From Middle French palliatif, from New Latin *palliātīvus, from Medieval Latin palliō (“to cloak”), from Latin pallium (“a cloak”).
Origin
Word Breakdown
Regional Pronunciation
- American English: /ˈpælieɪtɪv/
- British English: /ˈpælɪətɪv/