Reared in Azotus, dreaded through the coast
Of Palestine, in Gath and Ascalon,
And Accaron, and Gaza’s frontier bounds.
Milton, Paradise Lost, i. 462.
| Palliate, | } |
| Palliation. |
‘To palliate’ is at this day to extenuate a fault through the setting out of whatever will best serve to diminish the estimate of its gravity; and does not imply any endeavour wholly to deny it; nay, implies rather a certain recognition and admission of the fault itself. Truer to its etymology once, it expressed the cloking of it, the attempt, successful or otherwise, entirely to conceal and cover it. Eve ‘palliates’ her fault in the modern sense of the word (Gen. iii. 13), Gehazi in the earlier (2 Kin. v. 25).
You cannot palliate mischief, but it will
Through all the fairest coverings of deceit
Be always seen.
Daniel, The Tragedy of Philotas, act iv. sc. 2.