Pacs

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A plural form referring to multiple formal agreements or treaties between nations or parties to maintain peace; collective organizations or groups advocating for peaceful resolutions; abbreviated groups promoting political action and advocacy
2. Multiple contracts or accords established to secure harmony among groups; various entities committed to nonviolent conflict resolution; numerous political action committees engaged in influence and lobbying
3. Several binding agreements designed to prevent hostilities; multiple organizations working toward conflict prevention; distinct political groups mobilizing support for common causes

Etymology: "Pacs" is the plural of "pac", and the singular is an abbreviation rather than an older word. It is short for "pacte", the French word for "pact" or "treaty", so that "pacs" stands for pacts, in the sense of international peace agreements. The abbreviation belongs to the vocabulary of diplomacy and international relations, where short forms of longer phrases are common shorthand among specialists and journalists. The surprising part is that the word is borrowed from French and not from Latin, even though "pact" itself descends from Latin "pactum" through French. Readers who meet "pac" in an English newspaper may assume it is a clipped form of an English word, such as "package" or "pacific," but its source is the French term, which keeps the older Latin sense of a formal agreement.

Synonyms: peace accords, agreements, treaties, contracts, alliances

Antonyms: conflicts, wars, disputes, hostilities, battles