assuage
verb

- to lessen the intensity of (something that pains or distresses); to ease

- if you assuage an unpleasant feeling that someone has, you make them feel it less strongly

- if you assuage a need or desire for something, you satisfy it

Merriam-Webster, Collins Dictionary

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ORIGIN

The word "assuage" comes from the Latin adjective suavis, meaning "sweet”.

The word's journey into English went through Old French assouagier (to soften or appease), derived from the Latin assuaviare (to make sweet or agreeable).

Therefore, the underlying meaning of assuage is to sweeten or make something more bearable, similar to how a sweet treat can soothe a troubled mind.

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TURN A FROWN UPSIDE DOWN

The idea of "assuaging"—to mitigate or make milder—has a long human history. From soothing a crying baby to calming a friend in distress, the need to assuage is deeply embedded in our social behaviour.

During the infamous "Miracle on the Hudson" incident in 2009, Captain Chesley "Sully" Sullenberger's calm demeanor and methodical approach assuaged the fears of passengers and crew, leading to a successful emergency landing on the Hudson River.

In 1854, during a cholera outbreak in London, John Snow's efforts to assuage public fear by mapping the outbreak and identifying a contaminated water pump led to groundbreaking advancements in epidemiology.

Assuaging isn't just about grand gestures; it's in the small acts too. Imagine a cat owner trying to assuage their pet's anxiety during a thunderstorm by playing soft music.

In a world filled with stress and uncertainty, mastering the art of assuaging—whether through words, a kind touch, or even a good laugh—is often all it takes to turn a frown upside down.

P.S.

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SYNONYMS

allay, alleviate, appease, ASSUAGE, balm for the soul, becalm, blunt, buffer, calm the waters, comfort, console, cool down, cushion (the blow), defuse, diminish/dull/ease/lessen/quell the pain, ease (the burden), give solace, keep the peace, lessen, lighten (the load), lull, make less severe, mitigate, mollify, numb, pacify, palliate, placate, pour oil on troubled waters, quench, quiet, reduce, relieve, remedy, salve, satiate, soothe, soften (the blow), subdue, take the edge off, take the sting out of, temper, tone down, tranquilize.

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SMUGGLE OWAD into a sentence, say something like:

"I can ASSUAGE my worries by meditating every morning."

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