The action of making something even, flat, or less rough; or the process of reducing wrinkles or irregularities.
From Old English 'smōth' meaning 'smooth or soft,' Germanic in origin. Over time it gained the additional meaning of making something diplomatically calm or trouble-free.
The phrase 'smoothing things over' reveals how much we think of conflict as rough terrain—negotiators are literally architects trying to flatten the bumps in relationships.
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