reconcile
REK-un-syle
/ˈrekənsaɪl/
To restore friendly relations between; to make one account consistent with another.
Implies a return to a previous state of harmony. It can also mean making two conflicting ideas or numbers fit together.
The story behind the word. The 're-' prefix is the key here. It means to bring people back into that 'council' (concilium) we discussed with 'conciliate'. It’s about a second chance at peace.
Word relationships
- conciliate: Conciliate is about winning favor; reconcile is about fixing a broken bond.
- estrange: Estrange means to turn away from a previously friendly relationship.
Commonly confused with
- rectify: Rectify means to correct a mistake; reconcile means to make things agree or be friendly again.
Word family
- reconciliation (noun): The restoration of friendly relations.
Collocations
- reconcile differences
- reconcile the accounts
- reconcile with an ex
Example sentences
- "It's difficult to reconcile such different points of view." Family dynamics.
Memory hook
Re-concile: To call the 'council' again to fix the friendship. Bring back to the council.
When not to use
Don't use it if there was no prior relationship to restore.
Fun facts
- In accounting, 'reconciling' means making sure the bank statement and your own records match up perfectly.
Related words
Explore more words
reconciliation, harmonize, conciliation, conciliate, rapprochement, amicable
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