[FONT=arial, helvetica] Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for November 07, 2007 is:
mollify • \MAH-luh-fye\ • verb
*1 : to soothe in temper or disposition : appease 2 : to reduce the rigidity of : soften 3 : to reduce in intensity : assuage, temper

Example sentence:
The clerk tried his best to mollify the irate customer.

Did you know?
"Mollify," "pacify," "appease," and "placate" all mean "to ease the anger or disturbance of," although each implies a slightly different way of pouring oil on troubled waters. "Pacify" suggests the restoration of a calm or peaceful state, while "appease" implies the quieting of insistent demands by making concessions; you can appease appetites and desires as well as persons. "Placate" is similar to "appease," but it often indicates a more complete transformation of bitterness to goodwill. "Mollify," with its root in Latin "mollis," meaning "soft," implies soothing hurt feelings or anger.

*Indicates the sense illustrated in the example sentence.


[/FONT]