solace

1 of 2

verb

so·​lace ˈsä-ləs 

 also  ˈsō-

solaced; solacing

transitive verb

1

: to give comfort to in grief or misfortune : console

2

a

: to make cheerful

b

: amuse

3

: allay, soothe

solace grief

solacement

ˈsä-ləs-mənt 

 also  ˈsō-

noun

solacer noun

solace

2 of 2

noun

1

: comfort in grief : alleviation of grief or anxiety

2

: a source of relief or consolation

Did you know?

Take Solace in This Word Origin

Solace is a 14th century borrowing from Latin by way of Anglo-French. Its Latin ancestor solari means “to console.” (Solari itself is from the Greek word hilaros, meaning “cheerful”—also source, of course, of hilarious.) Solace is not related to solar (that comes from Latin sol by way of solaris), but it is a close relation of console (“to try to make (someone) feel less sadness or disappointment”) and consolation (“something that makes a person feel less sadness, disappointment, etc.”). In addition to its noun function, solace can be used as a verb (“he was solaced by the company of his children”). For those of you who take solace in knowing the more obscure members of our vast language, we are pleased to also present solacer (“one who solaces”) and solacement (“an act of solacing or the condition of being solaced”).

Synonyms

Verb

• assure
• cheer
• comfort
• console
• reassure
• soothe

Noun

• cheer
• comfort
• consolation
• relief

Examples of solace in a Sentence

Verb

Solaced by an abundance of whisky, champagne and cigars, he always bounced back, restoring and recreating himself through intensely active immersion in one or another of his varied interests … —Robert Kuttner, New York Times Book Review, 23 Oct. 1988

In this deplorable state, I contrived to do, what I take to have been, three Objective things. I got Mr. Franklin his sherry; I retired to my own room; and I solaced myself with the most composing pipe of tobacco I ever remember to have smoked in my life. —Wilkie Collins, The Moonstone, 1868

… and it was settled that Mr. Jones should be sent for early in the morning if Miss Bennet were not decidedly better. Bingley was quite uncomfortable; his sisters declared that they were miserable. They solaced their wretchedness, however, by duets after supper … —Jane Austen, Pride and Prejudice, 1813

counselors did their best to solace the bereaved children

I solaced myself with a book while I waited for the bus.

Noun

Think your city's suffering? Imagine if your favorite team bolted town after 41 seasons, not for some cosmopolitan burg but a dusty outpost where oil derricks qualify as urban skyline. Now imagine turning to your city's other teams for solace only to find each to be avert-your-eyes abysmal. —Chris Ballard, Sports Illustrated, 10 Nov. 2008

It's important to explain what's going on, but some parents tell their child too much—about being lonely and frightened, about dates they're going on. Instead of the parent offering emotional solace to the child, the child is expected to provide it for the adult. —People, 4 Mar. 2002

Poe's poem is a morbidly sentimental threnody on the same theme: the speaker blames the envious angels for taking his beloved from this world, and finds solace in lying beside her grave. —David Lodge, The Art of Fiction, 1992

Her presence was a great solace for me.

the kind words brought a little solace to the grieving widow

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

Having left her 1-year-old daughter, Millicent, in Washington with her parents, Mabel solaced herself with the bustle of dinners, carriage rides, musicales and games of whist mainly organized by the town’s eminent couple, Susan and Austin Dickinson. —Brenda Wineapple, WSJ, 25 Oct. 2018

Noun

Marsh, then 22, decided to up sticks and move to a traditional English cottage in Oxford to find solace and reset her life following the end of the relationship. —Gord Magill, Newsweek, 21 Dec. 2024

Jenna Henley has found solace in an unexpected place — atop the very horse that was involved in her father’s tragic death. —Ashley Vega, People.com, 20 Dec. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun and Verb

Middle English solas, from Anglo-French, from Latin solacium, from solari to console

First Known Use

Verb

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

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Kids Definition

solace

1 of 2 noun

so·​lace ˈsäl-əs 

 also  ˈsōl-

1

: comfort in times of grief or worry

2

: something that gives comfort

solace

2 of 2 verb

solaced; solacing

1

: to give solace to : console

2

: to make cheerful