Merriam-Webster’s Word of the Day: “Conciliatory”

Date: November 6, 2025
Host: Peter Sokolowski

Overview

This episode explores the word “conciliatory”—its meaning, origins, and usage—offering listeners greater insight into how and when to use this adjective. The host, Peter Sokolowski, provides a thoughtful literary example, breaks down the word’s etymology, and introduces related vocabulary.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Definition and Pronunciation

• Spelling: C O N C I L I A T O R Y
• Part of Speech: Adjective
• Meaning: Describes actions, tones, or gestures intended to reduce hostility or to gain favor or goodwill.
  • [00:42] “Something described as conciliatory is intended to reduce hostility or to gain favor or goodwill.” —Peter Sokolowski

2. A Literary Example

• Quoted from The River, the Town by Farah Ali:
  • [01:01] “When I was younger and my father found me in bed after my mother had said or done something to send me there, he would sit for a moment by my feet and tell me in an awkward, conciliatory way that it wasn't my mother's fault. She was sad and worried, and she had been sad and worried for a long time. So I had to try harder to be a good, thoughtful child.”
• Context: Here, "conciliatory" describes the father’s gentle, peace-making manner as he comforts his child and attempts to ease the situation.

3. Practical Usage

• Application:
  • “If you are conciliatory towards someone, you’re trying to win that person over to your side, usually by making them less angry.” —Peter Sokolowski [01:25]
• Connotation: Implies an attempt to soothe, pacify, or reduce conflict in personal, professional, or public interactions.

4. Origins and Etymology

• History in English:
  • The verb “conciliate” entered English in the mid-16th century.
• Latin Roots:
  • From “conciliare,” meaning “to assemble, unite, or win over.”
  • Ultimately from Latin noun “concilium”—“assembly” or “council.”
• Evolution:
  • “Conciliatory” arrived in English later in the 16th century from the same root.
    • [01:45] “The verb conciliate was borrowed into English in the mid 16th century and descends from the Latin verb conciliare, meaning to assemble, unite, or win over.” —Peter Sokolowski

5. Related Words

• Reconcile:
  • Shares the same Latin root.
  • “Another word that has conciliare as a root is reconcile, the earliest meaning of which is to restore to friendship or harmony.” —Peter Sokolowski [02:05]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• [00:42] “Something described as conciliatory is intended to reduce hostility or to gain favor or goodwill.” —Peter Sokolowski
• [01:01] “...tell me in an awkward, conciliatory way that it wasn't my mother's fault. She was sad and worried... So I had to try harder to be a good, thoughtful child.” —Quote from Farah Ali’s novel
• [01:25] “If you are conciliatory towards someone, you’re trying to win that person over to your side, usually by making them less angry.”
• [01:45] “The verb conciliate was borrowed into English in the mid 16th century and descends from the Latin verb conciliare...”
• [02:05] “Another word that has conciliare as a root is reconcile, the earliest meaning of which is to restore to friendship or harmony.”

Timestamps for Important Segments

• [00:42] — Introduction and definition of “conciliatory”
• [01:01] — Literary example from The River, the Town
• [01:25] — Explanation of practical usage
• [01:45] — Word origins and etymology
• [02:05] — Related word: “reconcile”

Conclusion

This episode delivers a succinct yet rich exploration of “conciliatory”: its nuanced meanings, effective usage, and fascinating etymology. With literary illustration and etymological depth, listeners gain practical tools for both understanding and deploying this word to foster goodwill and harmony in relationships and conversations.