Definition of Palliate

Palliate: To treat partially and incompletely. To palliate a diseases is to treat it partially but not cure it completely. Palliation cloaks a disease. Palliate has several senses, including: to reduce the severity of (a disease); to moderate the intensity of something; and to cover by excuses and apologies. The Latin "pallium" referred to a type of cloak in ancient Greece and Rome and, later, to a white woolen band with pendants in front and back worn by the pope or an archbishop as a symbol of full episcopal authority. Pallium was modified to form "palliate," an adjective meaning "cloaked" or "concealed" and a verb meaning "to cloak," "to cloth," or "to shelter." Today "palliate" implies disguising or concealing badness or evil and suggests alleviating the vile effects of wickedness or illness.

Source: MedTerms™ Medical Dictionary
http://www.medterms.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=4735
Last Editorial Review: 4/27/2011 5:27:15 PM