Library / English Dictionary

SOLACE

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 I. (noun) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

The act of consoling; giving relief in affliction

Example:

his presence was a consolation to her

Synonyms:

comfort; consolation; solace

Classified under:

Nouns denoting acts or actions

Hypernyms ("solace" is a kind of...):

ministration; relief; succor; succour (assistance in time of difficulty)

Derivation:

solace (give moral or emotional strength to)

Sense 2

Meaning:

The comfort you feel when consoled in times of disappointment

Example:

second place was no consolation to him

Synonyms:

consolation; solace; solacement

Classified under:

Nouns denoting feelings and emotions

Hypernyms ("solace" is a kind of...):

comfort (a feeling of freedom from worry or disappointment)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "solace"):

cold comfort (very limited consolation or empathy)

bright side; silver lining (a consoling aspect of a difficult situation)

Derivation:

solace (give moral or emotional strength to)

Sense 3

Meaning:

Comfort in disappointment or misery

Synonyms:

solace; solacement

Classified under:

Nouns denoting stable states of affairs

Hypernyms ("solace" is a kind of...):

comfort; comfortableness (a state of being relaxed and feeling no pain)

Derivation:

solace (give moral or emotional strength to)

 II. (verb) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

Give moral or emotional strength to

Synonyms:

comfort; console; solace; soothe

Classified under:

Verbs of feeling

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "solace"):

calm; calm down; lull; quiet; quieten; still; tranquilize; tranquillise; tranquillize (make calm or still)

allay; ease; relieve; still (lessen the intensity of or calm)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s somebody
Something ----s somebody

Sentence example:

The good news will solace her

Derivation:

solace (the act of consoling; giving relief in affliction)

solace (the comfort you feel when consoled in times of disappointment)

solace (comfort in disappointment or misery)

solacement (the comfort you feel when consoled in times of disappointment)

solacement (comfort in disappointment or misery)

Credits

 Context examples: 

They solaced their wretchedness, however, by duets after supper, while he could find no better relief to his feelings than by giving his housekeeper directions that every attention might be paid to the sick lady and her sister.

(Pride and Prejudice, by Jane Austen)

She could not think that Harriet's solace or her own sins required more; and she was therefore industriously getting rid of the subject as they returned;—but it burst out again when she thought she had succeeded, and after speaking some time of what the poor must suffer in winter, and receiving no other answer than a very plaintive—“Mr. Elton is so good to the poor!” she found something else must be done.

(Emma, by Jane Austen)

The dowagers Ingram and Lynn sought solace in a quiet game at cards.

(Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Brontë)

I'll try, Beth. and then and there Jo renounced her old ambition, pledged herself to a new and better one, acknowledging the poverty of other desires, and feeling the blessed solace of a belief in the immortality of love.

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)

"God keep you from harm and wrong—direct you, solace you—reward you well for your past kindness to me."

(Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Brontë)

"I dare say you are clever, though," continued Bessie, by way of solace.

(Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Brontë)

Such is the sole conjugal embrace I am ever to know—such are the endearments which are to solace my leisure hours!

(Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Brontë)

Men and women die; philosophers falter in wisdom, and Christians in goodness: if any one you know has suffered and erred, let him look higher than his equals for strength to amend and solace to heal.

(Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Brontë)

She would thus descend to the kitchen once a day, eat her dinner, smoke a moderate pipe on the hearth, and go back, carrying her pot of porter with her, for her private solace, in her own gloomy, upper haunt.

(Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Brontë)

You too have principle and mind: your tastes and habits resemble Diana's and Mary's; your presence is always agreeable to me; in your conversation I have already for some time found a salutary solace.

(Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Brontë)