Definitions
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
- n. Comfort in sorrow, misfortune, or distress; consolation.
- n. A source of comfort or consolation.
- v. To comfort, cheer, or console, as in trouble or sorrow. See Synonyms at comfort.
- v. To allay or assuage: "They solaced their wretchedness, however, by duets after supper” ( Jane Austen).
Century Dictionary and Cyclopedia
- n. Comfort in sorrow, sadness, or misfortune; alleviation of distress or of discomfort.
- n. That which gives relief, comfort, or alleviation under any affliction or burden.
- n. Sport; pleasure; delight; amusement; recreation; happiness.
- n. In printing, the penalty prescribed by the early printers for a violation of office rules. Synonyms and
- To cheer in grief, trouble, or despondency; console under affliction or calamity; comfort.
- To allay; assuage; soothe: as, to solace grief by sympathy.
- To amuse; delight; give pleasure to: sometimes used reflexively.
- Synonyms and . See solace, n.
- To take comfort; be consoled or relieved in grief.
- To take pleasure or delight; be amused; enjoy one's self.
Wiktionary
- n. Comfort or consolation in a time of distress.
- n. A source of comfort or consolation.
- v. To give solace to; comfort; cheer; console.
- v. To allay or assuage.
GNU Webster's 1913
- n. Comfort in grief; alleviation of grief or anxiety; also, that which relieves in distress; that which cheers or consoles; relief.
- n. Rest; relaxation; ease.
- v. To cheer in grief or under calamity; to comfort; to relieve in affliction, solitude, or discomfort; to console; -- applied to persons.
- v. To allay; to assuage; to soothe.
- v. To take comfort; to be cheered.
WordNet 3.0
- n. comfort in disappointment or misery
- n. the comfort you feel when consoled in times of disappointment
- v. give moral or emotional strength to
- n. the act of consoling; giving relief in affliction
Etymologies
- Middle English solas, from Old French, from Latin sōlācium, from sōlārī, to console.
Examples
“Much like President Bill Clinton took solace from the Democratic defeat in the 1994 midterms, so does Obama embark this week on a lengthy trip to Asia, where he will be able to put aside temporarily the political setback at home for a turn on the global stage, where he remains widely admired.”
The Washington Post: Around the world, concern over the global impact of U.S. elections
“If so, perhaps ITV can take solace from the fact that breakfast television has never taken off over here as it did in the US.”
The Guardian: Daybreak still watched by fewer viewers than its predecessor GMTV
“I take some solace from the fact that this morning's snowfall will eventually become part of next summer's trout stream.”
“As his eyes welled with tears, he added, "I found a certain solace and soothing in the telling.”
“That's pretty gross, I know, but at least here in the Rocky Mountain State we can take solace from the fact that we're not Mississippi, the nation's fattest state, where better than one out of every three people is considered obese.”
The Huffington Post: Todd Hartley: Colorado: The Short End of the Fat Stick
“But language failed him, and he drew solace from the long glass.”
“Some places no longer exist, as they were back then because the secret you held in your heart as a treasure was discovered by others and the years have converted it into a mainstream gateway, trampled, used and built upon where solace is now only in memory.”
“The source added that BBC executives would take solace from the fact that it was only being asked to take on the funding of broadcasting organisations? and not get into welfare benefits by subsidising free TV licences for over-75s.”
The Guardian: BBC licence fee frozen at £145.50 for six years
“Some discussed the aromatics and flavors during the tasting; others, including Ravines 'winemaker Morten Hallgren, preferred to taste in solace -- perhaps to avoid confirmation bias that arises during tasting discussions.”
“But coach Darrin Horn, whose Gamecocks were the surprise of the league when they finished 21-10 last year in his first season, took some solace from the fact that the team wasn't an easy out.”
Lists
These user-created lists contain the word ‘solace’.
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GRE Barrons Wordlist
A complete Barron's Wordlist for GRE preparation. Your online flashcard replacement.
abase, abash, abate, abbreviate, abdicate, aberrant, aberration, abet, abeyance, abhor, abject, abjure and 4084 more...
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thambos777's list of Beautiful-sounding Words
Words that you think sound beautiful, regardless of meaning.
silver, chalice, semantics, barcelona, kindle, teeming, solace, cellar, resplendent, trellis
super-labmaven "Solace of salt air" (from Heroes, a TV show, but I love that phrase)
"The Earth is large. Large enough that you think you can hide from anything. From Fate. From God. If only you found a place far enough away. So you run. To the edge of the Earth. Where all is safe again. Quiet, and warm. The solace of salt air. The peace of danger left behind. The luxury of grief. And maybe, for a moment, you believe you have escaped." Oct 25, 2009
bilby "That delight, solace, and pleasure, which shall come to man by woman, is prognosticated by that place wherein woman was created: for she was framed in Paradice, a place of all delight and pleasure, euery element hath his creatures, euery creature doth corresponde the temper and the inclination of that element wherein it hath and tooke his first and principall esse, or being."
- Ester Sowernam, 'Ester hath hang'd Haman', 1617. Aug 5, 2009
ofravens what solace
Can be struck from rock to make heart's waste
grow green again?
from "Winter Landscape, With Rooks," Sylvia Plath Mar 31, 2008