palliative

pal-li-a-tive · adjective

imported

Definitions

adjective

  1. 1.

    (Of a treatment or medicine) Relieving pain or alleviating a problem without dealing with the underlying cause.

  2. 2.

    (Noun) A palliative medicine or treatment.

  3. 3.

    Relating to care that focuses on comfort and quality of life rather than cure.

Related words

Antonyms: curative
See also: comfort, hospice, palliate
Synonyms: alleviating, relieving, soothing

Etymology

From Medieval Latin palliativus, from Latin palliare (to cloak, conceal), from pallium (cloak).