Source : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

Palliation \Pal`li*a"tion\, n. [Cf. F. palliation.]
   1. The act of palliating, or state of being palliated;
      extenuation; excuse; as, the palliation of faults,
      offenses, vices.

   2. Mitigation; alleviation, as of a disease. --Bacon.

   3. That which cloaks or covers; disguise; also, the state of
      being covered or disguised. [Obs.]

Source : WordNet®

palliation
     n 1: easing the severity of a pain or a disease without removing
          the cause
     2: to act in such a way as to cause an offense to seem less
        serious [syn: {extenuation}, {mitigation}]