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n. 1. Ecclesiastical a. A small flat tablet adorned with a sacred image that worshipers kiss when offered the kiss of peace. b. The kiss of peace. 2. Pax A time of wide-ranging stability when there is only a single dominant power. Used with a Latinized name: "Editorials lauding the civilizing influence of Pax Britannica were met with ... a crushing disinterest from most of the public" (Nisid Hajari). [Medieval Latin pāx, from Latin, peace; see pag- in the Appendix of Indo-European roots. Sense 2, on the model of Late Latin pāx (Rōmāna), the Roman peace, state of security obtaining under Roman rule, alteration of Latin (Rōmāna) pāx.] |
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