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peace

/ˈpiːs/ [ˈpʰɪi̯s] syllables: peace
  • noun
  • interjection
  • verb
  • from Anglo-Norman

A state of tranquility, quiet, and harmony. For instance, a state free from civil disturbance.

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1 All current definitions

Every sense of “peace” in current use, as recorded by Wiktionary. Older and obsolete senses are kept separately.

noun

  1. uncountableusuallyA state of tranquility, quiet, and harmony. For instance, a state free from civil disturbance.

    Our lounge strives to maintain an environment of peace for the comfort of our customers.

  2. uncountableusuallyA feeling of tranquility, free from oppressive and unpleasant thoughts and emotions.

    The safety equipment will give me some peace of mind.

  3. euphemisticfigurativelyuncountableusuallyDeath.

    ’Twere best at once to sink to peace, ⁠Like birds the charming serpent draws, ⁠To drop head-foremost in the jaws Of vacant darkness and to cease.1850, [Alfred, Lord Tennyson], “Canto XXXIV”, in In Memoriam, London: Edward Moxon, […], →OCLC, page 53:

  4. uncountableusuallyHarmony in personal relations.
  5. uncountableusuallyA state free of war, in particular war between different countries.

    May there be peace in our time.

Wiktionary: “peace” (via kaikki.org) — CC BY-SA 4.0

interjection

  1. slangPeace out; goodbye.
Older & obsolete senses (1)
  1. archaicShut up!, silence!; be quiet, be silent.
Wiktionary: “peace” (via kaikki.org) — CC BY-SA 4.0

verb

  1. To make peace; to put at peace; to be at peace.

    Within every hood they have to be peacing with themselves. Then when you're living in peace with yourself, [...]1997, Yusuf Jah, Shah'Keyah Jah, Uprising, page 49:

  2. slangTo peace out.

    Fuck, man. Yeah, I know. He crashed with this guy, Eddie. Then the cops called me in. That's when he peaced. I swear on my father's grave, I don't know where he went. I swear.2012, Jens Lapidus, Easy Money:

Wiktionary: “peace” (via kaikki.org) — CC BY-SA 4.0
Cross-check: WordNet senses (5)
  1. nounthe state prevailing during the absence of war
  2. nounharmonious relations; freedom from disputes
  3. nounthe absence of mental stress or anxiety — also: peacefulness, peace of mind, repose, serenity, heartsease
  4. nounthe general security of public places — also: public security
  5. nouna treaty to cease hostilities — also: peace treaty, pacification
Princeton WordNet 3.0 — WordNet License

2 History of the word

The etymology, the path the word travelled, and the words built from it.

The word’s journey, newest to oldest:

  1. English (today)peace
  2. Middle Englishpees
  3. Anglo-Normanpeis
  4. Latinpāx “peace”
  5. Proto-Indo-European*peh₂ḱ- “to fasten, stick, place”

From Middle English pees, pes, pais, borrowed from Anglo-Norman peis and Old French pais (“peace”), from Latin pāx (“peace”), from Proto-Indo-European *peh₂ḱ- (“to fasten, stick, place”), related to Latin pacīscor (“agree, stipulate”), Latin pangō (“fasten, fix”); see pact. Doublet of pax. Displaced native Old English sibb, frēols, and broadly ousted friþ (modern frith).

Wiktionary: “peace” (via kaikki.org) — CC BY-SA 4.0

Derivatives — words built from “peace”

antipeacedispeaceGreenpeacemakepeacemake-peacepeaceabilitypeaceablepeacebreakerpeacebreakingpeacebuilderpeacebuildingpeacefulPeacehavenpeacekeeperpeacekeepingpeacelesspeacelessnesspeacelikepeaceloverpeace-lovingpeacemakerpeacemakingpeacemongerpeacemongeringpeacenpeacenikpeace-nikpeacespeakpeacetimepeacifyunpeace

Phrases & compounds

at peaceat peace withbreach of the peaceCarthaginian peacedisturb the peacedove of peaceguardian of the peacehold one's peaceI come in peaceindustrial peaceinner peacein peaceJustice of the Peacekeep one's peacekeep the peaceking's peacekiss of peaceletters of peacelong peacemake peace

Related terms

pacificpacifypacificationpacifismpacifist
Wiktionary: “peace” (via kaikki.org) — CC BY-SA 4.0

Want to go deeper? See also “peace” on Etymonline ↗

3 Original language

Where “peace” came from before it was English.

Came into English from
Anglo-Norman
Anglo-Norman peis
Oldest written form
Latin
Latin pāx “peace”
Deepest root (reconstructed)
Proto-Indo-European
Proto-Indo-European *peh₂ḱ- “to fasten, stick, place”
Wiktionary: “peace” (via kaikki.org) — CC BY-SA 4.0

4 Original meaning

What the word meant at the oldest point the record reaches.

Reconstructed Proto-Indo-European root
“to fasten, stick, place”
Proto-Indo-European *peh₂ḱ- — rebuilt by linguists from its descendants; never written down.
Wiktionary: “peace” (via kaikki.org) — CC BY-SA 4.0

Historical meaning — Webster’s 1913

A historical record, labelled as such: some of these senses are dated or have since shifted.

peace n. [OE. pees, pais, OF. pais, paiz, pes, F. paix, L. pax, pacis, akin to pacere, paciscere, pacisci, to make an agreement, and prob. also pangere to fasten. Cf. Appease, Fair, a., Fay, v., Fang, Pacify, Pact, Pay to requite.]

  1. A state of quiet or tranquillity; freedom from disturbance or agitation; calm; repose
  2. Exemption from, or cessation of, war with public enemies.
  3. Public quiet, order, and contentment in obedience to law.
  4. Exemption from, or subjection of, agitating passions; tranquillity of mind or conscience.

peace v. t. & i.

  1. To make or become quiet; to be silent; to stop.
Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913), public domain, via GCIDE

5 Use it with confidence

Model sentences from the sources, matched to the meaning they show. Read each one aloud, then make your own in the game.

nounMeaning: A state of tranquility, quiet, and harmony. For instance, a state free from civil disturbance.

Our lounge strives to maintain an environment of peace for the comfort of our customers.

Naomi boasted in nothing but the God of Israel. And she found peace even in the midst of chaos when she went to Him in prayer.2001, Carol Stream, Unshaken:

nounMeaning: A feeling of tranquility, free from oppressive and unpleasant thoughts and emotions.

The safety equipment will give me some peace of mind.

nounMeaning: Death.

’Twere best at once to sink to peace, ⁠Like birds the charming serpent draws, ⁠To drop head-foremost in the jaws Of vacant darkness and to cease.1850, [Alfred, Lord Tennyson], “Canto XXXIV”, in In Memoriam, London: Edward Moxon, […], →OCLC, page 53:

nounMeaning: A state free of war, in particular war between different countries.

May there be peace in our time.

1993, Mark Berry as "King Harkinian", a character in Animation Magic, Link: The Faces of Evil, Philips Interactive Media (publ.). My boy, this peace is what all true warriors strive for.

verbMeaning: To make peace; to put at peace; to be at peace.

Within every hood they have to be peacing with themselves. Then when you're living in peace with yourself, [...]1997, Yusuf Jah, Shah'Keyah Jah, Uprising, page 49:

In another northern species, ptarmigan, such a see-saw pattern between warring and peacing has indeed been observed by researchers.2006, Wayne Grady, Bringing back the dodo: lessons in natural and unnatural history:

verbMeaning: To peace out.

Fuck, man. Yeah, I know. He crashed with this guy, Eddie. Then the cops called me in. That's when he peaced. I swear on my father's grave, I don't know where he went. I swear.2012, Jens Lapidus, Easy Money:

nounMeaning: harmonious relations; freedom from disputes

the roommates lived in peace together

nounMeaning: the general security of public places

he was arrested for disturbing the peace

nounMeaning: a treaty to cease hostilities

peace came on November 11th

Princeton WordNet 3.0 — WordNet License
Wiktionary: “peace” (via kaikki.org) — CC BY-SA 4.0

Three steps to owning it

  1. Pick one meaning above and read its model sentence out loud.
  2. Say who or what the word is about in your own life, then build a sentence around that.
  3. Check it against the definition: would a careful reader understand exactly that meaning?

6 The mastery game

Play it here, or print it and do it with pen and paper. At the end you will know the meanings, history, origin and original meaning — and you will have used the word yourself.

Step 1 of 10

Say it, then spell it

peace

/ˈpiːs/ · peace

Say the word out loud three times, slowly. Notice the stressed syllable. When you are ready, hide it and spell it from memory.

Activate Words · Word-mastery worksheet · Name: ______________________ Date: __________

peace

/ˈpiːs/ · peace · noun, interjection, verb

Step 1 — Say it and write it

Say “peace” out loud three times. Then cover the word and write it three times from memory.

Step 2 — Know every meaning

Read each definition. Then write it again in your own words.

1. (noun) A state of tranquility, quiet, and harmony. For instance, a state free from civil disturbance.
2. (noun) A feeling of tranquility, free from oppressive and unpleasant thoughts and emotions.
3. (noun) Death.
4. (noun) Harmony in personal relations.
5. (noun) A state free of war, in particular war between different countries.

Step 3 — Which meaning is it?

“Our lounge strives to maintain an environment of peace for the comfort of our customers.”

A. A state of tranquility, quiet, and harmony. For instance, a state free from civil disturbance.
B. To make peace; to put at peace; to be at peace.
C. Death.

Circle the meaning used.

“The safety equipment will give me some peace of mind.”

A. Death.
B. A feeling of tranquility, free from oppressive and unpleasant thoughts and emotions.
C. A state of tranquility, quiet, and harmony. For instance, a state free from civil disturbance.

Circle the meaning used.

“May there be peace in our time.”

A. A state free of war, in particular war between different countries.
B. Death.
C. A state of tranquility, quiet, and harmony. For instance, a state free from civil disturbance.

Circle the meaning used.

Step 4 — History and origin

Which language did “peace” come into English from?   A. Old French  B. Anglo-Norman  C. Latin  D. Late Latin

Write the word’s journey back in time (each language and form):

Write three words built from “peace” and what each means:

Step 5 — Original meaning

The earliest traceable form is Proto-Indo-European *peh₂ḱ-. What did it mean?

How does that original meaning connect to the meanings today?

Step 6 — Use it yourself

Write a sentence using “peace” to mean: A state of tranquility, quiet, and harmony. For instance, a state free from civil disturbance.
Write a sentence using “peace” to mean: A feeling of tranquility, free from oppressive and unpleasant thoughts and emotions.
Write a sentence using “peace” to mean: Death.

☐ I can explain its meanings   ☐ I know its history   ☐ I know its original language   ☐ I know its original meaning   ☐ I can use it confidently

Answer key — peace

Which meaning, sentence 1: A. A state of tranquility, quiet, and harmony. For instance, a state free from civil disturbance.

Which meaning, sentence 2: B. A feeling of tranquility, free from oppressive and unpleasant thoughts and emotions.

Which meaning, sentence 3: A. A state free of war, in particular war between different countries.

Origin: B. Anglo-Norman (Anglo-Norman peis)

Journey: English peace ← Middle English pees ← Anglo-Norman peis ← Latin pāx ← Proto-Indo-European *peh₂ḱ-

Some derivatives: antipeace, dispeace, Greenpeace, makepeace, make-peace, peaceability, peaceable, peacebreaker

Original meaning: Proto-Indo-European *peh₂ḱ- — “to fasten, stick, place”

Etymology: From Middle English pees, pes, pais, borrowed from Anglo-Norman peis and Old French pais (“peace”), from Latin pāx (“peace”), from Proto-Indo-European *peh₂ḱ- (“to fasten, stick, place”), related to Latin pacīscor (“agree, stipulate”), Latin pangō (“fasten, fix”); see pact. Doublet of pax. Displaced native Old English sibb, frēols, and broadly ousted friþ (modern frith).

Sources: Wiktionary “peace” (https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/peace#English), CC BY-SA 4.0, via kaikki.org; Princeton WordNet 3.0; Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913, public domain) via GCIDE. Worksheet from https://activatewords.com/w/peace