Mediate

Part of speech: verb

Pronunciation: /ˈmidieɪt/

Definitions

1. To intervene between parties in conflict or disagreement in order to bring about a resolution or agreement
2. To act as a go-between in disputes or negotiations in order to facilitate understanding or compromise
3. To serve as an intermediary in resolving conflicts or differences by promoting dialogue and settlement

Etymology: The verb "mediate" grew out of a Latin word meaning simply "to be in the middle." Its ancestor, Late Latin "mediare," came from "medius," meaning "middle," the same root that gives us words like "medium" and "median." Early English borrowed the adjective form first, in the 1440s, when it described something that stood between two things or served as an intermediary. The verb, meaning to step between parties in dispute, appeared in 1538. What makes the story neat is how literally the word began. A mediator was, in the most basic sense, someone standing in the middle of two sides. The modern sense of helping opposing parties reach agreement is a short step from that spatial picture: the person in the middle is the one who can reach both ends.

Synonyms: intervene, negotiate, facilitate, arbitrate, moderate

Antonyms: aggravate, escalate, intensify, exacerbate, provoke