propitiate Copy link Outline 1. plāco, 12. prŏpĭtio, 1 (to render gracious; whereas placo is rather to allay anger3. pĭo, expĭo, 1 (more freq., to atone for, expiate guilt)4. līto, 1 (to offer propitiatory sacrifices; with dat. • propitiate: 1. plāco, 1: to p. the power of the gods, numen deorum p., Caes. B. G. 6, 16: also, placare [donis] iram deorum, Vet. Lex in Cic. Leg. 2, 9, fin. 2. prŏpĭtio, 1 (to render gracious; whereas placo is rather to allay anger: not in the best authors): to p. by every kind of atonement, per omnia piaculorum genera p., Suet. Oth. 7: Tac. 3. pĭo, expĭo, 1 (more freq., to atone for, expiate guilt): to p. the manes of the dead, manes mortuorum expiare, Cic. in Pis. 7, 16: Virg. (ossa piare): Hor. (Sometimes lenire or mitigare [iram deorum] may serve: v. to pacify, assuage.) 4. līto, 1 (to offer propitiatory sacrifices; with dat.: rare in this use): Cic. Fl. 38, 96: Macr. S. S. 1, 7, init. (absol.).