v. Obs. Forms: 5 adoulce, 6 addoulce, 7 addoulse, adulce, addulce. [orig. a. MFr. adoulcir, also written addoulcir; (mod. adoucir) to sweeten:—late L. addulcīre; f. ad to + dulcis sweet. Subseq. refashioned after L.] To sweeten, to render pleasant or palatable (a thing); to soothe, mollify (a person).
1475. Caxton, Jason, 20 b. Shalle not the Rigour … of my noble lady be myned and adoulced by my habondant prayers?
1552. Huloet, Abcedarium, Addoulce or mitigate with swetnes, Permulceo.
c. 1592. G. Harvey, Sonnets, xv. 69. Then would I so my melody addoulce.
1617. Minsheu, Ductor, To Addoulse, or mitigate with sweetenesse, Fr. addoulcir, addoucir; It. addolcire.
1622. Bacon, Henry VII., 90. With great show of their king’s affection, and many sugared words, seek to addulce all matters between the two kings.
1655. Digges, Compl. Ambass., 263. The answer you see … is addulced so much as may.
1655. Fuller, Ch. Hist., IX. 203. The Queen having lately Adulced him with fair language.
1679. Prance, Add. Narrat., 18. For the addulcing and ascertaining his Friends and Partizans beyond the Seas.
1696. Phillips, Addoulce (French) to sweeten, mollifie, or asswage. [Not in ed. 1706.]
