palliate

The story

1. Latin · derived frompalliātus
2. Middle French · derived frompallier
3. Middle English · inherited frompalliaten“To palliate (a disease), relieve the symptoms of (a patient); to extenuate (an offense); to conceal, hide”
4. English todaypalliate

The verb was inherited from Middle English palliaten (“To palliate (a disease), relieve the symptoms of (a patient); to extenuate (an offense); to conceal, hide”), the adjective and participle from its participle palliat(e); further borrowed either from Middle French pallier or directly from Latin palliātus, perfect passive participle of palliō (“to cover with a cloak”)), from pallium (“a cloak”), see -ate (verb-forming suffix) and -ate (adjective-forming suffix).

First known use, by meaning

• from 15th c. To relieve the symptoms of; to ameliorate.
• 16th–19th c. To hide or disguise.
• from 17th c. To cover or disguise the seriousness of (a mistake, offence etc.) by excuses and apologies.
• 17th–18th c. To lessen the severity of; to extenuate, moderate, qualify.
• from 17th c. To placate or mollify.
• 15th–17th c. Hidden, concealed.
• 17th c. (of a cure) superficial or temporary.