Placate vs placket

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Grammarist

Placate and placket are two words that are close in spelling and pronunciation but have very different meanings. They are sometimes confused. We will examine the definitions of placate and placket, where these terms came from and some examples of their use in sentences.

To placate means to appease someone, to smooth things over, to make someone feel less angry. Placate is a transitive verb, which is a verb that takes an object. Related words are placates, placated, placating. The word placate is derived from the Latin word placatus, which means peaceful, calmed, soothed.

A placket is a slit in a garment that functions as the opening, making it easier to take the garment on and off. A placket may involve buttons, snaps or other fasteners. It also be used to afford access to a pocket, or it may be purely decorative. The word placket is derived from a piece of clothing that was once worn under an open coat. This piece of clothing is no longer worn.

Examples

Cones listened on as her interviewer reeled off some pretty full-on past experiences with viewers praising her gracefulness and willingness to placate his wishes (after presenting a paintbrush made using the stray pubic hairs of famous artists, Cones offers her own up). (The Independent)

Analysts said that the German chancellor’s future remained deeply uncertain despite her apparently winning enough concessions at last week’s European Council summit to placate her CSU partners. (The Telegraph)

The Diamond Jacquard Polo has a contrasting mini-collar and piping on the placket for a 1950’s-feel that works both on and off the course. (Golf Digest)

The polyester material is also highly sweat-wicking and light, boasting a full-length zipper and inner placket. (Men’s Journal)