Makepeaces

Part of speech: verb

Definitions

1. To achieve reconciliation after a conflict or disagreement; to establish a peaceful resolution following discord; to create an atmosphere of harmony and goodwill following disputes
2. Engaging in the act of resolving differences to restore peace; fostering an environment of understanding and agreement after strife; initiating steps toward tranquility and reconciliation in relationships
3. Taking measures to mend relations and ensure mutual understanding; developing a state of concord after a period of tension; performing actions that promote peace and amicability between parties

Etymology: "Makepeaces" is the plural of "makepeace," a noun meaning a peacemaker or one who brings about peace. The English compound joins "make" and "peace," and the verb use shown here is a grammatical extension of that older noun-based formation. Its parts are plain Old English and Middle English material: "make" has been in the language since the earliest records, and "peace" came into English from Old French "pais," which ultimately descends from Latin "pax." The pattern is an old one in English. Compounds built on "make" plus a noun, such as "match-maker" and "law-maker," were productive for centuries, and "makepeace" follows that model. The sense has stayed close to its literal parts, so the word needs little unpacking: someone who makes peace, and by extension a person who works to end a quarrel.

Synonyms: reconcile, settle, resolve, mend, patch up

Antonyms: quarrel, dispute, worsen, aggravate, escalate