Tranquil

Part of speech: adjective

Pronunciation: /ˈtɹæŋ.kwɪl/

Definitions

1. Peaceful and free from disturbance, noise, or agitation
2. Free from turbulence, commotion, or emotional distress
3. Characterized by calm, quiet, and undisturbed serenity

Etymology: The Latin "tranquillus" was built from "trāns-," a prefix suggesting "across" or "beyond," joined to the root of "quiēs," meaning rest, quiet, or peace. The image is of a mind that has passed through and beyond agitation into stillness. The word reached English by way of Middle French "tranquille," so it arrived already polished by centuries of use in French and Latin. The same Latin root gave English "quiet" and "quiescent," so "tranquil" is a close relation of words describing rest, though its prefix gives it a more settled, serene tone. The ancient root behind all of these, reconstructed as something like "to rest," shows how old the idea of stillness is in the family of languages that gave us English.

Synonyms: calm, peaceful, serene, placid, still

Antonyms: chaotic, turbulent, agitated, disturbed, noisy