English

Adjective

irenic ‎(comparative more irenic, superlative most irenic)

1. (chiefly theology) Promoting or fitted to promote peace; conciliatory, non-confrontational; peaceful.
   • 2001, Hywel Williams, The Guardian, 30 Nov 2001:

     The idea that the Jews of the region are not genetically distinct from other peoples of the area should be an irenic insight.

   • 2002, Colin Jones, The Great Nation, Penguin 2003, p. 199:

     The philosophes contrasted their own irenic calls for tolerance with the church's historical record as the perennial source of cruelty and fanaticism.

   • 2011, Steven Pinker, The Better Angels of Our Nature, Penguin 2012, p. 343:

     The current comity between the United States and China […] is a recent reminder of the irenic effects of trade.

Related terms

• irenical
• irenicon
• irenics

Translations

References

• irenic in The Century Dictionary, The Century Co., New York, 1911