Reducing the severity of; denoting the alleviation of symptoms without curing the underlying disease.
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pal·lia·tive 'pal-ē-.āt-iv, 'pal-yət- adj serving to palliate <\palliative surgery>
pal·lia·tive·ly adv
palliative n something that palliates
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n.
a medicine that gives temporary relief from the symptoms of a disease but does not actually cure the disease. Palliatives are often used in the treatment of such diseases as cancer.
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pal·li·a·tive (palґe-ə-tiv) [L. palliatus cloaked] 1. affording relief but not cure. 2. an alleviating medicine.Medical dictionary. 2011.