Conciliator

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. An individual who works towards resolving conflicts by fostering understanding and harmony between opposing parties
2. A mediator who seeks to broker peace and agreement among those in dispute by facilitating communication
3. Someone who helps opposing sides settle their differences by encouraging dialogue and mutual concessions

Etymology: "Conciliator" comes from Latin "conciliator," a noun meaning one who brings people together or wins them over. It is built on "conciliare," to bring together, unite, or win over, which itself rests on "concilium," an assembly or gathering. The same root gave English "council," and the two words share a common ancestor that originally pointed to people coming together in one place. The Latin root "conciliare" also underlies "conciliate," which English took over with the sense of soothing or reconciling disputants. "Conciliator" follows the same pattern: the "-or" ending marks the person doing the action, so a conciliator is literally the one who draws opposing parties into agreement.

Synonyms: mediator, broker, peacemaker, intermediary, negotiator

Antonyms: instigator, aggressor, provoker, antagonist, opponent