de-escalation
|de-es-ca-la-tion|
B2
/ˌdiːˌɛskəˈleɪʃən/
reduce intensity
Etymology
Etymology Information
'de-escalation' originates from the prefix 'de-' meaning 'down' or 'away' and 'escalation' from the Latin 'scala' meaning 'ladder'.
Historical Evolution
'escalation' transformed from the Latin 'scala' to the modern English 'escalate', and 'de-' was added to form 'de-escalation'.
Meaning Changes
Initially, it meant 'to reduce the scale or intensity', and this meaning has largely remained the same in modern usage.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
the reduction of the intensity of a conflict or potentially violent situation.
The government called for de-escalation in the region to prevent further violence.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Idioms
Last updated: 2025/01/17 06:26