Conciliation

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. The act of ending a disagreement by bringing opposing parties together to reach a peaceful settlement or compromise
2. The act of mediating disputes to restore peace and agreement between conflicting parties through negotiation and compromise
3. The process of resolving conflicts by initiating dialogue and fostering mutual understanding between disagreeing parties to achieve agreement or compromise

Etymology: "Conciliation" comes to English from Middle French "conciliation," which in turn descends from Latin "conciliatio," a noun built on "conciliare," meaning to bring together or to unite. The Latin verb is itself based on "concilium," an assembly or council, so the word's core idea is literally the act of bringing people into one gathering. That root explains the modern sense. A conciliation is less a verdict than a meeting of opposed parties, brought to a point of agreement by a third party's help, so the word carries the sense of drawing hostile sides back together rather than settling who is right. The same Latin stem gives English "reconcile," "conciliate," and "conciliatory," which share its gathering-together meaning.

Synonyms: reconciliation, settlement

Antonyms: disagreement, conflict