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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.…

Softening; mollifying; soothing; assuasive; as, oil is demulcent.

Softening; making supple; acting as an emollient. "Emollient applications." Arbuthnot.

The act of softening or relaxing; relaxation. Bacon.

Softening; milklike.

o summon men to their quarters in case of fire. -- Fire setting (Mining), the process of softening or cracking the working face of a lode, to facilitate excavation, by exposing it to the action of fire; -- now generally superseded by the use of explosives. Raymond. -- Fire ship, a vessel filled with combustibles, for…

A softening of the coats of the stomach; -- usually a post- morten change.

The act of softening, breaking, or yielding. "Upon the first giving of the weather." Addison. Giving in, a falling inwards; a collapse. -- Giving out, anything uttered or asserted; an outgiving. His givings out were of an infinite distance From his true meant design. Shak.

The act or process of intenerating, or the state of being intenerated; softening. [R.] Bacon.

. See 2d Jack, n., 4 (l) & (n). -- Lamp shade, a screen, as of paper, glass, or tin, for softening or obstructing the light of a lamp. -- Lamp shell (Zoöl.), any brachiopod shell of the genus Terebratula and allied genera. The name refers to the shape, which is like that of an antique lamp. See Terebratula. -- Safet…

Relaxing; emollient; softening; assuasive; -- some "Lenient of grief." Milton. Of relax the fibers, are lenient, balsamic. Arbuthnot. Time, that on all things lays his lenient hand. Pope.

Having the quality of softening or mitigating, as pain or acrimony; assuasive; emollient.

A diminution or softening of statement for the sake of avoiding censure or increasing the effect by contrast with the moderation shown in the form of expression; as, " a citizen of no mean city," that is, of an illustrious city.

Softening; relaxing. [Obs.]

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

The act of mollifying, or the state of being mollified; a softening. Chaucer.

A cushion for terminating or softening a note made by a stringed instrument with a keyboard.

Softening and absorption of bone. -- Os`te*o*lyt"ic (#), a.

A softening or mollifying. [R.]

Mollifying; softening. [R.]