appeaser
UK[əˈpiːzə]US[əˈpiːzər]
n
a person who tries to bring about a state of peace, quiet, or calm, especially by making concessions or pacifying others.
n
(historical, often disapproving) a person who adopts a policy of appeasement, especially one who seeks to avoid conflict with a aggressive power by giving in to its demands.
Morpheme Breakdown
appease
er
appease
to bring to peace
er
Etymology
the word 'appeaser' is built upon the verb 'appease', which entered english from old french 'apaisier' in the 14th century. the french term derived from the vulgar latin 'appacare', a compound of the latin preposition 'ad' (to, towards) and the noun 'pax' (peace), literally meaning "to bring to peace". the agent suffix '-er', of germanic origin, was then attached to form a noun denoting a person who carries out the action of appeasing. while initially neutral, its modern connotation was heavily shaped by the 1930s policy of appeasement towards nazi germany, giving the term a strong historical association with the dangerous futility of attempting to pacify an aggressor through concession.
Analysis
Structure: appease + er
- appease: from old french 'apaisier' (to pacify, calm), itself from latin 'ad-' (to) + 'pax' (peace). functions as the verbal root meaning "to bring to peace".
- er: from old english '-ere', a Germanic agent noun suffix. functions as a derivational suffix indicating "a person or thing that performs the action of the verb".
Examples
he was criticized as an appeaser for his reluctance to confront the dictator's expansionist policies.
in the family dynamic, she often played the role of the appeaser, smoothing over arguments between her siblings.
the prime minister's reputation as an appeaser was cemented after the controversial treaty was signed.