The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Assuage \As*suage"\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Assuaged; p. pr. &
   vb. n. Assuaging.] [OE. asuagen, aswagen, OF. asoagier,
   asuagier, fr. assouagier, fr. L. ad + suavis sweet. See
   Sweet.]
   To soften, in a figurative sense; to allay, mitigate, ease,
   or lessen, as heat, pain, or grief; to appease or pacify, as
   passion or tumult; to satisfy, as appetite or desire.
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         Refreshing winds the summer's heat assuage. --Addison.
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         To assuage the sorrows of a desolate old man --Burke.
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         The fount at which the panting mind assuages
         Her thirst of knowledge.                 --Byron.
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   Syn: To alleviate; mitigate; appease; soothe; calm;
        tranquilize; relieve. See Alleviate.
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