Placid

Part of speech: adjective

Pronunciation: /ˈplæs.ɪd/

Definitions

1. Calm and peaceful, with little movement or emotional disturbance
2. Free from disturbance or agitation, exhibiting a peaceful nature with smooth and gentle qualities
3. Marked by tranquility and quietude, showing an absence of noise, tension, or turmoil

Etymology: Latin "placēre" meant "to please," and its derivative "placidus" meant "pleasing" or "gentle" before it came to describe a calm temperament. The English adjective "placid" was borrowed from French "placide," which in turn came from "placidus," so the word's core idea is one of soothing or pleasing rather than of stillness as such. A tranquil lake or a mild-mannered person is, in a sense, one that pleases the eye or ear by avoiding disturbance. The Latin verb "placēre" is also the source of English "please," which makes "placid" a distant relative of a very everyday word. Both trace back to the same notion of being agreeable to someone.

Synonyms: calm, tranquil, serene

Antonyms: agitated, chaotic, turbulent