Reconciliatory

Part of speech: adjective

Pronunciation: /ˌrɛkənˈsɪli.ətɔri/

Definitions

1. Intended to restore friendly relations or resolve a disagreement between parties in conflict
2. aimed at healing divisions and restoring harmony between opposing parties through peaceful agreement
3. designed to bridge differences and reestablish goodwill by bringing conflicting sides toward mutual understanding

Etymology: "Reconciliatory" is a plain formation rather than a story with a famous coiner, so its interest lies in how its parts fit together. The base is "reconcile," which came into English from Latin "reconciliare," meaning to bring back together or restore a friendly bond. Within that Latin verb, the stem "reconciliat-" appears in the form "reconciliatus," meaning "reunited," and it is this participial stem that English builds on. The ending "-ory" comes from Latin "-orius," a suffix that forms adjectives meaning "serving to" or "relating to," as in "satisfactory" or "obligatory." Put together, "reconciliatory" describes something that serves to bring two sides back into harmony. The word thus denotes a purpose rather than a state: a reconciliatory gesture is one designed to repair a relationship, not merely one that happens to accompany a rift.