palliation
(pælɪˈeɪʃən)
[a. F. palliation (13–14th c. in Littré), ad. med.L. palliātiōn-em, n. of action from palliāre: see palliate.]
† 1. The action of palliating; the cloaking or concealing (of an act, etc.); that which serves to conceal or hide; a cloak, covering. Obs.
| 1577 Patericke tr. Gentillet (1602) 228 They make her [justice] serve..as a palliation or coverture, for all assassi[n]ments, murders, and vengeances. 1649 Milton Eikon. xxvii. 1660 H. More Myst. Godl. To Rdr. 9 The generality of Christians make the external frame of Religion but a palliation for sin. 1794 Sullivan View Nat. V. 344 Candour would wish to throw a veil over the failings of an illustrious character; but deliberately perpetrated crimes have no claim to palliation. |
2. The action of disguising or seeking to make less conspicuous, the enormity of (a crime, etc.) by excuses and apologies; extenuation; excuse; often in phrase in palliation of.
| 1605 Bacon Adv. Learn. ii. xi. §3 Herein comes in crookedly and dangerously, a palliation of a great part of Ceremoniall Magicke. 1766 Goldsm. Vic. W. xxx, This..though not a perfect excuse, is such a palliation of his fault as induces me to forgive him. 1867 Freeman Norm. Conq. I. vi. 570 He could not..invoke even the tyrant's plea of necessity in palliation of his evil deeds. |
3. The alleviation of the symptoms and incidents of disease without curing it; hence gen. alleviation, mitigation, temporary relief.
| 1626 Bacon Sylva §61 A wise physician will consider whether a disease be incurable;..if he find it to be such, let him resort to palliation; and alleviate the symptom. 1651 Biggs New Disp. ¶83 Palliations of diseases. 1783 Johnson Let. to Dr. Mudge in Boswell, Excision is doubtless necessary to the cure, and I know not any means of palliation. 1863 Holland Lett. Joneses xxii. 314 You utterly refuse to admit that there is any palliation of your misery. |