Word of the Day

: September 13, 2011

solace

noun SAH-lus

What It Means

1 : alleviation of grief or anxiety

2 : a source of relief or consolation

solace in Context

After her husband’s death, Mary often found solace in reminiscing about him with their mutual friends.

"In the last few years, Niagara Hospice has added creative services to its repertoire of solace and comfort, and found more ways to help more people … including having teen volunteers make videos of people telling their life stories, offering meal delivery and providing gift tote bags with handmade lap quilts inside." -- From an article by Michelle Kearns in the Buffalo News (New York), July 24, 2011

Did You Know?

"Solace" was borrowed into English in the 14th century (via Anglo-French) from Latin "solacium," which in turn derives from the Latin verb "solari," meaning "to console." As you may have guessed, "solari" is also the source of the English words "console" and "consolation" (formed by combination with the prefix "com-"). In addition to the noun function, "solace" can be used as a verb ("he was solaced by the company of his children"). Also related are the nouns "solacer" ("one who solaces") and "solacement" ("an act of solacing or the condition of being solaced" or "something that solaces").