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Softening; relaxing. [Obs.]

The act of making soft or supple. [Obs.] Bacon.

One of a tribe of beetles (Malacodermata), with a soft and flexible body, as the fireflies.

A peculiar disease of the bones, in consequence of which they become softened and capable of being bent without breaking.

Having soft jaws without teeth, as certain fishes.

To soften by kneading or stirring with some thinner substance. [R.]

The act of softening by mixing with a thinner substance; the formation of ingredients into a mass for pills or plasters. [R.]

The external fold, or folds, of the soft, exterior membrane of the body of a mollusk. It usually forms a cavity inclosing the gills. See Illusts. of Buccinum, and Byssus.

A wild cat (Felis manul), having long, soft, light-colored fur. It is found in the mountains of Central Asia, and dwells among rocks.

ll South American monkeys of the genera Hapale and Midas, family Hapalidæ. They have long soft fur, and a hairy, nonprehensile tail. They are often kept as pets. Called also squirrel monkey.

ddish yellow flesh, and to the vegetable marrow, a variety of an ovoid form, and having a soft texture and fine grain resembling marrow. -- Spinal marrow. (Anat.) See Spinal cord, under Spinal.

A tract of soft wet land, commonly covered partially or wholly with water; a fen; a swamp; a morass. [Written also marish.] Marsh asphodel (Bot.), a plant (Nartheeium ossifragum) with linear equitant leaves, and a raceme of small white flowers; -- called also bog asphodel. -- Marsh cinquefoil (Bot.), a plant (Potentil…

A mass of mixed ingredients reduced to a soft pulpy state by beating or pressure; a mass of anything in a soft pulpy state. Specifically (Brewing), ground or bruised malt, or meal of rye, wheat, corn, or other grain (or a mixture of malt and meal) steeped and stirred in hot water for making the wort.…

Modesty, courtesy, or concession, or a desire to soften a question or remark. How old may Phillis be, you ask. Prior.

Having the qualities of meal; resembling meal; soft, dry, and friable; easily reduced to a condition resembling meal; as, a mealy potato.

Using soft words; plausible; affectedly or timidly delicate of speech; unwilling to tell the truth in plain language. "Mealy-mouthed philanthropies." Tennyson. She was a fool to be mealy-mouthed where nature speaks so plain. L'Estrange. -- Meal"y-mouth`ness, n.

(aspirates) f, th, x (ph or f, th, ch). Also called middle mute, or medial, and sometimes soft mute.

A large transverse commissure in the third ventricle of the brain; the middle or soft commissure. B. G. Wildex.

A soft tissue, occupying the center of the stem or branch of a plant; pith. Medulla oblongata. Etym: [L., oblong medulla] (Anat.), the posterior part of the brain connected with the spinal cord. It includes all the hindbrain except the cerebellum and pons, and from it a large part of the cranial nerves arise. It contro…

A fine white claylike mineral, soft, and light enough when in dry masses to float in water. It is a hydrous silicate of magnesia, and is obtained chiefly in Asia Minor. It is manufacturd into tobacco pipes, cigar holders, etc. Also called sepiolite.