Cactus. Interesting. I google arsuage and find no such reference.
otherwise:
assuage Look up assuage at Dictionary.com
c.1300, from Anglo-Fr. assuager, O.Fr. assoagier "soften, moderate, alleviate, calm, soothe, pacify," from V.L. *adsuaviare, from L. ad- "to" (see ad-) + suavis "sweet, agreeable" (see sweet). For sound development in French, cf. deluge from L. diluvium, abridge from abbreviare. Related: Assuaged; assuaging.