Sof"ten (?), v. t. [imp. & p.
p. Softened (?); p. pr. & vb. n.
Softening.] To make soft or more soft. Specifically:
--
(a) To render less hard; -- said of
matter.
Their arrow's point they soften in the
flame.
Gay.
(b) To mollify; to make less fierce or
intractable.
Diffidence conciliates the proud, and softens
the severe.
Rambler.
(c) To palliate; to represent as less
enormous; as, to soften a fault.
(d) To compose; to mitigate; to
assuage.
Music can soften pain to ease.
Pope.
(e) To make calm and placid.
All that cheers or softens life.
Pope.
(f) To make less harsh, less rude, less
offensive, or less violent, or to render of an opposite
quality.
He bore his great commision in his look,
But tempered awe, and softened all he spoke.
Dryden.
(g) To make less glaring; to tone down; as, to
soften the coloring of a picture.
(h) To make tender; to make effeminate; to
enervate; as, troops softened by luxury.
(i) To make less harsh or grating, or of a
quality the opposite; as, to soften the voice.
Sof"ten, v. i. To become soft or
softened, or less rude, harsh, severe, or obdurate.
Sof"ten (?), v. t. [imp. & p.
p. Softened (?); p. pr. & vb. n.
Softening.] To make soft or more soft. Specifically:
--
(a) To render less hard; -- said of
matter.
Their arrow's point they soften in the
flame.
Gay.
(b) To mollify; to make less fierce or
intractable.
Diffidence conciliates the proud, and softens
the severe.
Rambler.
(c) To palliate; to represent as less
enormous; as, to soften a fault.
(d) To compose; to mitigate; to
assuage.
Music can soften pain to ease.
Pope.
(e) To make calm and placid.
All that cheers or softens life.
Pope.
(f) To make less harsh, less rude, less
offensive, or less violent, or to render of an opposite
quality.
He bore his great commision in his look,
But tempered awe, and softened all he spoke.
Dryden.
(g) To make less glaring; to tone down; as, to
soften the coloring of a picture.
(h) To make tender; to make effeminate; to
enervate; as, troops softened by luxury.
(i) To make less harsh or grating, or of a
quality the opposite; as, to soften the voice.
Sof"ten, v. i. To become soft or
softened, or less rude, harsh, severe, or obdurate.
