Appease v.

Forms: 4–5 apese, -ayse, 5 -aise, -eise, -ees(e, 5–6 -ease, (6 apeace); 5–6 appese, 5–7 -aise, 6 -ayse, -ayze, 5– appease. See aphet. PEASE. [a. OFr. apese-r, apaisie-r, apeisie-r (mod. apaiser) to bring to peace, f. à to + pais, peis, pes (mod. paix):—L. pāc-em peace. Apaisier was thus a later formation from the same elements as apaier:—L. adpācāre (see APAY), with a more literal sense. Already in 14th c. aphetized as pese. In 15th c. refashioned as app-, and in spelling reform of 16th c. written appease. A form APEACE, assimilated to peace, occurs in 16th c.]

  1.  a. To bring to peace, pacify, quiet or settle (strife or disorder).

c. 1330.  R. Brunne, Chron., 245. Sir Edward gos to Gascoyn forto apese.

1400.  Ld. Grey, in Ellis, Orig. Lett., II. i. I. 3. To apees the misgouernance and the riote.

1525.  Ld. Berners, Froiss., II. lxi. 207. Prayng hym to apease the matter with y^e kynge of Aragon.

1605.  Bacon, Adv. Learn., I. vii. § 26. [Julius Cæsar] could with one word appease a mutiny in his army.

1722.  De Foe, Mem. Cavaliers (1840), 16. [She] appeased this tumult … by her prudence.

1872.  Yeats, Growth Comm., 154. To appease their continual feuds.

  b.  To bring to peace, calm or quiet (persons at strife or in disorder). Also fig. Obs. exc. as in 4 b.

c. 1380.  Sir Ferumb., 3212. Betwene hem wente kyng Sortybron; & a-paysede hem.

1491.  Caxton, Vitas Patr. (W. de W.), I. vii. 11 b/2. Moued by charyte … tacorde & appese them togider.

1582.  N. T. (Rhem.), Acts xix. 35. When the Scribe had appeased the multitudes.

1603.  Knolles, Hist. Turks (1638), 53. Busied in appeasing … the disordred city.

1774.  J. Bryant, Mythol., II. 317. To appease the troubled ocean.

  2.  a. To pacify, assuage or allay (anger or displeasure). Also fig.

c. 1374.  Chaucer, Boeth., IV. vii. 148. Hercules … apaised[e] wiþ þat deeþ þe wraþþe of euander.

a. 1450.  Knt. de la Tour, 13. Forto apese the wrathe of God … thei fasted.

1534.  Ld. Berners, Gold. Bk. M. Aurel., Ff viij. The iuste goddis neuer appease theyr yres agaynst vniuste men.

1697.  Dryden, Virg. Past., IX. 9. These two kids t’appease his angry mood, I bear.

1750.  Johnson, Rambl., No. 79, ¶ 5. To appease enmity by blandishments and bribes.

1846.  Ruskin, Mod. Paint., IV. V. vi. § 9. By the mists … his [the sun’s] implacable light is divided, and its separated fierceness appeased into the soft blue.

  b.  To pacify or propitiate (him who is angry).

c. 1374.  Chaucer, Troylus, III. 22. Ye fers Mars apesyn of his yre.

c. 1450.  Merlin, xxvi. 501. Thus apeesed the Queen Sir Gawein.

1579.  Tomson, Calvin’s Serm. Tim., 187/2. Christe … hath once appeased God his father toward vs.

1667.  Milton, P. L., V. 846. Hasten to appease The incensed Father, and the incensed Son.

1762.  Goldsm., Cit. World, xlix. This well-timed compliment instantly appeased the angry fairy.

1849.  Macaulay, Hist. Eng., II. 244. The king was silenced, but not appeased.

  3.  To assuage, soothe, allay or relieve: a. physical pain (obs.) or mental suffering.

c. 1374.  Chaucer, Compl. Mars., 10. Apeseth [v.r. appeseth, -ease, -eesiþe, -esith, apaysith] sumwhat of your sorowes smart.

c. 1420.  Pallad. on Husb., IV. 448. In the wynter season Covert of stre thaire coldes must appeson.

1543.  Traheron, Vigo’s Chirurg., II. iv. 19. To appayse the payne of all apostemes.

1706.  Addison, Rosamond, III. iii. Fain would my tongue his griefs appease.

1828.  Hawthorne, Fanshawe, v. (1879), 78. I pray you to appease your anxiety.

  † b.  the sufferer or part affected. Obs.

c. 1374.  Chaucer, Troylus, III. 887. Berith hym this blew ring, For ther is nothing might … better his hert apese.

1413.  Lydg., Pylgr. Sowle, IV. i. (1483), 58. Solace … wherwith to appesen his herte.

1566.  Painter, Pal. Pleas., I. Pref. 11. The sicke [shall be] appaysed of griefe.

  4.  To pacify, by satisfying demands (lit. and fig.): a. complaints (obs.), cravings, appetites, prejudices.

1548.  Coverdale, Erasm. Par. 1 Cor. xi. 25. To apease mennes bodyly thruste.

1596.  Spenser, F. Q., I. iii. 29. Now then your plaint appease.

1783.  Johnson, Lett., 329, II. 330. To have no assistance … in resolving doubts, in appeasing scruples.

1863.  Burton, Bk. Hunter, 42. The savage who seeks but to appease the hunger of the moment.

  b.  the person who makes the demand or has the appetite. Const. with.

1561.  T. N[orton], Calvin’s Inst., Pref. He hymselfe was appeased with a cardinalls hatte.

1728.  Newton, Chronol. Amended, ii. 223. Bacchus appeased him [Vulcan] with wine.

1833.  Ht. Martineau, Berkeley, I. iii. 60. What did you do to appease these insolent fellows?

  † 5.  refl. in prec. senses. Obs.

c. 1386.  Chaucer, Melib., ¶ 895. Whan he is debonaire and meeke, and appesith [v.r. apeiseth, -aiseth] him lightly.

1485.  Caxton, Paris & V., 47. She appeased hyr self.

1523.  Ld. Berners, Froiss., I. vii. 6. Fayre suster appease your selfe.

  † 6.  intr. in prec. senses. Obs.

c. 1440.  Partonope, 3986. Hys hert somwat ganne apese.

c. 1500.  Colyn Blowbol’s Test., in Halliw., Nug. P., 2. Whan his angwyssh somwhat gan apese.

1523.  Ld. Berners, Froiss., I. xcii. 114. The thirde day … the see apeased.

1561.  T. N[orton], Calvin’s Inst., I. 18. After the crueltie appeased.