[ad. L. conciliātiōn-em, n. of action from conciliāre to CONCILIATE. So F. conciliation in Cotgr.).]
1. The action of bringing into harmony; harmonizing, reconcilement.
1543. Bale, Yet a Course, etc. 52 b (T.). The concylyacion of the holye scriptures and most auncient fathers.
1558. Proclam. Q. Eliz., in Strype, Ann. Ref., I. App. iii. 3. Until consultation may be had … for the better conciliation and accord of such causes as … are moved in matters and ceremonies of religion.
1678. Gale, Crt. Gentiles, III. 210. The conciliation of human libertie with Divine preditermination of the wil.
1877. H. Spencer, Princ. Sociol., I. 626. This conciliation of the interests of the species, the parents, and the young.
b. Court (tribunal) of conciliation: a court for composing disputes by offering to the parties a voluntary settlement, the case proceeding to a judicial court if this is not accepted.
1803. Syd. Smith, Wks. (1859), I. 55/2. The Tribunal of Conciliation, established since 1795, is composed of the most intelligent and respectable men in the vicinage.
2. The gaining or winning by quiet means.
1553. Lady Jane Grey, in Strype, Eccl. Mem., III. Introd. 6. To … proceed in the former commission, for the conciliation of some good peace between our said good brother and the French King.
a. 1646. J. Gregory, Posthuma (1671), 65. To the conciliation of Rest and Sleep it is required that there be a moderate repletion.
1750. Johnson, Rambler, No. 81, ¶ 8. Beneficence needful to the conciliation of the divine favour.
† 3. Peaceable or friendly union. Obs.
1655–60. Stanley, Hist. Philos. (1701), 628/1. Considering the conciliation of men among themselves.
1678. Cudworth, Intell. Syst., I. v. 896. Were there not a Natural Conciliation of all Rational Creatures … men could [not] have made any firm Cities or Polities.
4. Conversion from a state of hostility or distrust; the promotion of good will by kind and considerate measures; the exhibition of a spirit of amity, practice of conciliatory measures.
1775. Burke, Sp. Concil. Colonies, Wks. III. 26. If, Sir, we incline to the side of conciliation, we are not at all embarrassed … by any incongruous mixture of coercion and restraint.
1792. Anecd. W. Pitt, III. xliii. 158. Let conciliation follow chastisement.
1856. Froude, Hist. Eng. (1858), I. iv. 290. A policy of studied conciliation.
1880. McCarthy, Own Times, IV. lvi. 224. The effect of conciliation was … tried.
b. attrib.
1839. Marryat, Diary Amer., Ser. I. III. 18. Government … defrays the whole expenses under the head of Conciliation Money.
1886. Pall Mall G., 19 Aug., 1/1. Last year, when the Tories were on the conciliation line.
5. Rhet.
[1706. Phillips (ed. Kersey), Conciliatio, a Figure in Rhetorick. See Synœceosis.]
1828. Whately, Rhet., in Encycl. Metrop., 267/1. In no point more than in … the Conciliation (to adopt the term of the Latin writers) of the hearers, is it requisite to consider who and what the hearers are.
Hence Conciliationist, an advocate of a policy of conciliation.
1826. Blackw. Mag., XX. 228. Shall we fear to tell those Conciliationists that we can do very well without their good opinion?
