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To render temperate; to moderate; to soften; to temper. [Obs.] It inflames temperance, and temperates wrath. Marston.

To melt, dissolve, or become fluid; to soften; -- said of that which is frozen; as, the ice thaws.

Fig.: To moderate or relax; to diminish or weaken the striking characteristics of; to soften. The best method for the purpose in hand was to employ some one of a character and position suited to get possession of their confidence, and then use it to tone down their religious strictures. Palfrey. -- To tone up, to cause…

To affect the senses or the sensibility of; to move; to melt; to soften. What of sweet before Hath touched my sense, flat seems to this and harsh. Milton. The tender sire was touched with what he said. Addison.

composed of a hard, grayish, or yellowish, translucent or opaque matter, which gradually softens, and excites suppuration in its vicinity. It is most frequently found in the lungs, causing consumption. Tubercle bacillus (Med.), a minute vegetable organism (Bacillus tuberculosis) discovered by Koch, a German physician,…

To disarm; to soften. Richardson.

to sexual intercourse. Into the snare I fell Of fair, fallacious looks, venereal trains, Softened with pleasure and voluptuous life. Milton.

ulging to excess in sensual gratifications. "The jolly and voluptuous livers." Atterbury. Softened with pleasure and voluptuous life. Milton. -- Vo*lup"tu*ous*ly, adv. -- , n.

range. -- White shark (Zoöl.), a species of man-eating shark. See under Shark. -- White softening. (Med.) See Softening of the brain, under Softening. -- White spruce. (Bot.) See Spruce, n., 1. -- White squall (Naut.), a sudden gust of wind, or furious blow, which comes up without being marked in its approach other…

d pulp (Technol.), vegetable fiber obtained from the poplar and other white woods, and so softened by digestion with a hot solution of alkali that it can be formed into sheet paper, etc. It is now produced on an immense scale. -- Wood quail (Zoöl.), any one of several species of East Indian crested quails belonging to…

The act or process of making yellow. Softened . . . by the yellowing which time has given. G. Eliot.