palliative

English

Etymology

From Middle French palliatif, from New Latin *palliātīvus, from Medieval Latin palliō (to cloak), from Latin pallium (a cloak).

Pronunciation

  • (UK) IPA(key): /ˈpælɪətɪv/
  • (General American) IPA(key): /ˈpælieɪtɪv/, /ˈpæliətɪv/
  • (file)

Adjective

palliative (comparative more palliative, superlative most palliative)

  1. Serving to palliate; serving to extenuate or mitigate.
  2. (medicine) Minimising the progression of a disease and relieving undesirable symptoms for as long as possible, rather than attempting to cure the (usually incurable) disease.

Derived terms

Translations

Noun

palliative (plural palliatives)

  1. (medicine) Something that palliates, particularly a palliative medicine.
    The radiation and chemotherapy were only palliatives.
    • 1842, [anonymous collaborator of Letitia Elizabeth Landon], chapter XXVIII, in Lady Anne Granard; or, Keeping up Appearances. [], volume II, London: Henry Colburn, [], →OCLC, page 66:
      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...

See also

Further reading

French

Pronunciation

  • (file)

Adjective

palliative

  1. feminine singular of palliatif

German

Pronunciation

  • (file)

Adjective

palliative

  1. inflection of palliativ:
    1. strong/mixed nominative/accusative feminine singular
    2. strong nominative/accusative plural
    3. weak nominative all-gender singular
    4. weak accusative feminine/neuter singular

Italian

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /pal.ljaˈti.ve/
  • Rhymes: -ive
  • Hyphenation: pal‧lia‧tì‧ve

Adjective

palliative

  1. feminine plural of palliativo
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