Monday word: assuage

[ersatz-read.livejournal.com]

assuage (ə-swāj′) verb
1. To make something less intense or painful.
2. To give relief; to satisfy.
3. To soothe, calm, or appease.

Etymology:  From Latin suavis, sweet or agreeable.  Same origin as suave.

Comments

[prettygoodword.livejournal.com]

I know this is supposed to apply to any sort of physical or emotional pain, but I almost always see it only as part of "assuage (one's) grief." It wouldn't surprise me if in a century that's the only phrase is survives in.

---L.

[ersatz-read.livejournal.com]

That's the only common usage I could think of too.
I find myself using 'ameliorate' in conversation, but not 'assuage'. Not in relation to grief, but to denote slight improvement over some current set of conditions. Not sure why - I think I just like the way it sounds.

[prettygoodword.livejournal.com]

Heh -- yeah, I do that too.