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Softening   /sˈɔfənɪŋ/  /sˈɔfnɪŋ/   Listen
verb
Soften  v. t.  (past & past part. softened; pres. part. 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."
(b)
To mollify; to make less fierce or intractable. "Diffidence conciliates the proud, and softens the severe."
(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."
(e)
To make calm and placid. "All that cheers or softens life."
(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."
(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.



Soften  v. i.  To become soft or softened, or less rude, harsh, severe, or obdurate.



adjective
Softening  adj.  A. & n. from Soften, v.
Softening of the brain, or Cerebral softening (Med.), a localized softening of the brain substance, due to hemorrhage or inflammation. Three varieties, distinguished by their color and representing different stages of the morbid process, are known respectively as red, yellow, and white, softening.






Collaborative International Dictionary of English 0.48








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"Softening" Quotes from Famous Books



... with 5 lb. bichromate of potash, 4 lb. sulphuric acid (168 deg. Tw.). Enter at 150 deg. to 160 deg. F., and work at this for about ten minutes. After chroming, wash thoroughly to remove all traces of acid. At this stage, the usual softening may take place if desirable, and finally dry at a ...
— The Dyeing of Cotton Fabrics - A Practical Handbook for the Dyer and Student • Franklin Beech

... who had done most to bring him to New York and make his path pleasant, came to him with an account of what was said and thought, softening the expression so as to ...
— Esther • Henry Adams

... must not be jealous of poor Reginald:" and, as she uttered these words in a softening and conciliating tone, her eye was turned upon those of the warrior with a mingled expression of fear and cunning. "But he was very good and very handsome, and generous; and we lived near each other, ...
— Wacousta: A Tale of the Pontiac Conspiracy (Complete) • John Richardson

... beautiful spirit of no objections to anybody, proceed to think what can be done for the poor in the way of sincerely wishing them well. The princely merchant, in his counting-room, involuntarily experiences the softening, humanizing influence of the hour, and, in tones tremulous with unwonted emotion, privately directs his Chief-Clerk to tell all the other clerks, that, on this night of all the round year, they may, before leaving the store at ...
— Punchinello Vol. 1, No. 21, August 20, 1870 • Various

... returned, she met him with the hope that he would be able to spend the evening with her,—a thing which had not happened for a week. Her arms were about his neck as she put the question, and he looked down into her face with again a slight softening of his austere expression. She had seen at the first glance that he was not only still unhappy, he was ...
— Mrs. Red Pepper • Grace S. Richmond


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