mediate

The definition of mediate is to try to help resolve a dispute, usually by listening impartially and helping the parties come to a resolution.

(verb)

When you help two people who are getting a divorce to talk to each other and negotiate a divorce settlement without fighting, this is an example of a time when you mediate the dispute.

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See mediate in Webster's New World College Dictionary

intransitive verb mediated, mediating

  1. to be in an intermediate position or location
  2. to be an intermediary or conciliator between persons or sides

Origin: < LL mediatus, pp. of mediare, to divide in the middle < L medius, middle: see mid

transitive verb

    1. to settle by mediation: mediated the dispute
    2. to bring about by conciliation: mediated a settlement
  1. to be the medium for bringing about (a result), conveying (an object), communicating (information), etc.

adjective

  1. Now Rare intermediate or intervening
  2. dependent on, acting by, or connected through some intervening agency; related indirectly

Related Forms:

See mediate in American Heritage Dictionary 4

verb me·di·at·ed, me·di·at·ing, me·di·ates
verb, transitive
  1. To resolve or settle (differences) by working with all the conflicting parties: mediate a labor-management dispute.
  2. To bring about (a settlement, for example) by working with all the conflicting parties.
  3. To effect or convey as an intermediate agent or mechanism.
verb, intransitive
  1. To intervene between two or more disputants in order to bring about an agreement, a settlement, or a compromise.
  2. To settle or reconcile differences.
  3. To have a relation to two differing persons or things.
adjective (-ĭt)
  1. Acting through, involving, or dependent on an intervening agency.
  2. Being in a middle position.

Origin:

Origin: Late Latin mediāre, mediāt-, to be in the middle

Origin: , from Latin medius, middle; see medhyo- in Indo-European roots

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Related Forms:

  • meˈdi·ate·ly (-ĭt-lē) adverb

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