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A softening or mollifying. [R.]

To become less severe or intense; to become less hard, harsh, cruel, or the like; to soften in temper; to become more mild and tender; to feel compassion. Can you . . . behold My sighs and tears, and will not once relent Shak.

Mollifying; softening. [R.]

ubbed on with the stump, or to make any similar additions to the work, so as to produce a softened effect.

A mode of obtaining a softened effect, in painting and drawing, by the application of a thin layer of opaque color to the surface of a painting, or part of the surface, which is too bright in color, or which requires harmonizing.

ir follicles. They secrete an oily semifluid matter, composed in great part of fat, which softens and lubricates the hair and skin.

v. Eng. & Scot.] Sir W. Scott. When the skirling of the pipes cleft the air his cold eyes softened. Mrs. J. H. Ewing.

hat it can contain; to macerate in water or other liquid; to steep, as for the purpose of softening or freshening; as, to soak cloth; to soak bread; to soak salt meat, salt fish, or the like.

See Softener.

crying child; to soothe one's sorrows. Music hath charms to soothe the savage breast, To soften rocks, or bend a knotted oak. Congreve. Though the sound of Fame May for a moment soothe, it can not slake The fever of vain longing. Byron.

Anything steeped, or dipped and softened, in any liquid; especially, something dipped in broth or liquid food, and intended to be eaten. He it is to whom I shall give a sop, when I have dipped it. John xiii. 26. Sops in wine, quantity, inebriate more than wine itself. Bacon. The bounded waters Should lift their bosoms…

To expose to the action of steam; to apply steam to for softening, dressing, or preparing; as, to steam wood; to steamcloth; to steam food, etc.

To soak in a liquid; to macerate; to extract the essence of by soaking; as, to soften seed by steeping it in water. Often used figuratively. Let fancy still my sense in Lethe steep. Shak. In refreshing dew to steep The little, trembling flowers. Wordsworth. The learned of the nation were steeped in Latin. Earle.…

A mixture of oil and tallow used in softening and dressing leather. Stuffing box, a device for rendering a joint impervious where there is a hole through which a movable cylindrical body, as the paston rod of a steam engine, or the plunger of a pump, slides back and forth, or in which a shaft turns. It usually consists…

To reduce to tenderness; to melt; to soften; as, to subdue ferocity by tears.

Rough; dark; tempestuous. Now softened into joy the surly storm. Thomson.

To make mild or kind; to soften; as, to sweeten the temper.

humors in the eye. Sparkling synchysis (Med.), a condition in which the vitreous humor is softened and contains sparkling scales of cholesterin.

nd kids, for gloves, and the like, by imbuing them with alum, salt, and other agents, for softening and bleaching them.

ing; to modify, as by adding some new element; to qualify, as by an ingredient; hence, to soften; to mollify; to assuage; to soothe; to calm. Puritan austerity was so tempered by Dutch indifference, that mercy itself could not have dictated a milder system. Bancroft. Woman! lovely woman! nature made thee To temper man:…