Peace

Oxford English Dictionary definition of "peace":

1. a. Freedom from, or cessation of, war or hostilities; that condition of a nation or community in which it is not at war with another. b. (With article.) A ratification or treaty of peace between two powers previously at war. (Also, formerly, a temporary cessation of hostilities, a truce.) In Hist. often defined by of with the name of the place at which it was ratified. c. With possessive or of (the peace of any one, his peace, etc.): A state or relation of peace, concord, and amity, with him; esp. peaceful recognition of the authority or claims, and acceptance of the protection, of a king or lord. Obs.

2. Freedom from civil commotion and disorder; public order and security.

3. a. Freedom from disturbance or perturbation (esp. as a condition in which an individual person is); quiet, tranquillity, undisturbed state. Also emphasized as peace and quiet(ness). bill of peace: see quot. 1848. b. In and after Biblical use, in various expressions of well-wishing or salutation. Following L. pax and Gr. , peace often represents Heb. shlm, properly = safety, welfare, prosperity.

4. a. Freedom from quarrels or dissension between individuals; a state of friendliness; concord, amity. kiss of peace: a kiss given in sign of friendliness; spec. a kiss of greeting given in token of Christian love (see PAX) at religious services in early times; now, in the Western Ch., usually only during High Mass. b. transf. An author or maintainer of concord. c. = kiss of peace, PAX1 2: see a above. Also, an action symbolizing the kiss of peace. Now usu. a light embrace, a hand-shake, or a bow. d. with the peace of (repr. L. pace): = without offence to; begging
pardon of. rare1.

5. Freedom from mental or spiritual disturbance or conflict arising from passion, sense of guilt, etc.; calmness; peace of mind, soul, or conscience.

6. a. Absence of noise, movement, or activity; stillness, quiet; inertness.

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11. at peace. a. In a state of concord or friendliness; not at strife or at variance; at (any one's) peace, at peace with him (obs.). b. In a state of quietness, quiet, peaceful.

12. on, o, of peace: in peace, in quiet. Obs. rare.

13. to hold, (less usually keep) one's peace: to remain quiet or silent; to keep silence, refrain from speaking. arch.

14. to keep the peace (keep peace): to refrain, or prevent others, from disturbing the public peace (see 2, 10); to maintain public order; to prevent, or refrain from, strife or commotion.

15. a. to make peace: to bring about a state of peace, in various senses: (a) to effect a reconciliation between persons or parties at variance; to conclude peace with a nation at the close of a war; (b) to enter into friendly relations with a person, as by a league of amity, or by submission; (c) to enforce public order; (d) to enforce silence. b. to make one's, or a person's, peace: to effect reconciliation for oneself or for some one else; to come, or bring some one, into friendly relations (with another). (In quot. c1400, to admit a person to friendly relations with oneself.)

16. no peace for the wicked [Isaiah xlviii. 22, lvii. 21]: no rest or tranquillity for (the speaker); incessant anxiety, responsibility, or work.

- "Peace," n. Oxford English Dictionary. Ed. J. A. Simpson and E. S. C. Weiner. 2nd ed. Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1989. OED Online. Oxford University Press. 4 Apr. 2000.
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