Soft adv.

Forms: 1, 3–6 softe (5 soffte, 6 safte), 4– soft. [OE. sófte, = OS. sâfto, OHG. sanfto, samfto (MHG. sanfte, samfte, G. sanft): see prec.] Softly, in various senses.

  I.  1. In a quiet or peaceful state; in a comfortable or easy manner; on a soft bed, couch, etc.; † luxuriously. Now poet. or arch., esp. in to sleep soft.

a. 1000.  Genesis, 179. He … softe swæf.

c. 1000.  Saxon Leechd., II. 292. Reste [he] hine softe.

c. 1205.  Lay., 4004. Þer he læi softe & … slepte. Ibid., 6346. He wes a wel god mon & softe he wolde libben.

13[?].  Cursor M., 3796 (Gött.). Wele was he gladid of þat sight, Soft him thoght he slep þat nyht.

1398.  Trevisa, Barth. De P. R., VII. lviii. (Bodl. MS.). Þis yuell bredeth in ham þat leue esilich and softe, and trauayleþ butte litel.

c. 1400.  Brut, lxvii. 63. Y shal ȝeue ȝow soche a medecyne þat ȝe shulle swete anone ryȝt, and softe slepe.

1601.  Shaks., All’s Well, IV. iii. 368. I will … sleepe as soft As Captaine shall. Ibid. (1607), Timon, IV. iii. 206. Thy Flatterers … drinke Wine, lye soft.

1667.  Milton, P. L., VIII. 254. Soft on the flourie herb I found me laid.

1781.  Cowper, Anti-Thelyphthora, 8. Fancy … laid her soft in Amaranthine flow’rs.

1827.  Scott, Surg. Dau., ix. The riches of the East expended that they might sleep soft and wake in magnificence.

1850.  Mrs. Browning, The Sleep, iv. Sleep soft, beloved!

  b.  In soft wrappings, surroundings, etc.

a. 1400–50.  Alexander, 2401. Þat Iowell … Þat was full sekirly & soft all in silke falden.

c. 1440.  York Myst., xviii. 196. I pray þe…, happe hym warme, And sette hym softe.

1579.  Gosson, Sch. Abuse (Arb.), 39. They were smoothly appareled, soft lodged, daintely feasted.

  2.  In a gentle manner; without harshness, roughness, severity or violence.

a. 1000.  Boeth. Metr., xx. 7. Ðu … ʓesewenlicra softe wealdest scirra ʓesceafta.

c. 1250.  Gen. & Ex., 3874. An oðer siðe he went is ðoȝt Betre and softere.

a. 1300.  Cursor M., 58. Wyt chaunce of ded,… Þat soft began has endyng smart.

1377.  Langl., P. Pl., B. XX. 311. Ther is a surgiene in þis sege þat softe can handle.

c. 1385.  Chaucer, L. G. W., 2708, Hypermnestra. And hym she roggith & a-wakyth softe.

14[?].  Sir Beues (M.), 605. With drinke and salffe she helid hym softe.

  b.  Without much force, intensity or vigor; lightly, gently.

c. 1430.  Two Cookery-bks., 17. Stere it soffter an sofftere, tylle it come to-gedere; þan gader it to-gederys with a ladelle or a Skymoure, softe, tille it be round to-gedere. Ibid., 22. Wrynge it soft þorw a straynoure.

1742.  Young, Nt. Th., II. 241. Silky-soft Favonius, breathe still softer, or be chid.

1757.  Gray, Bard, 71. Fair laughs the Morn, and soft the Zephyr blows.

1793.  Wordsw., Descr. Sk., 14. Nature loves to show’r Soft on his wounded heart her healing pow’r.

1833.  Tennyson, Lotos-Eaters, Choric Song i. There is sweet music here that softer falls Than petals from blown roses on the grass.

1891.  C. T. C. James, Rigmarole, 175. ‘I fall soft,’ he said.

  3.  With gentle movement; unobtrusively; without (much) noise or sound; quietly.

c. 1205.  Lay., 26614. Þæs cnihtes siȝen þurh þene wude wunder ane softe.

c. 1290.  S. Eng. Leg., I. 75. Þis holie Man wende forth a-mong heom alle wel softe.

a. 1300.  Cursor M., 17288 + 127. For drede þai stynted oft For ferd of þe Iews, and sithen welk ful soft.

c. 1374.  Chaucer, Troylus, III. 1535. He softe into his bed gan for to slynke To slepe longe.

1596.  Spenser, F. Q., IV. xi. 33. Him follow’d Yar, soft washing Norwitch wall.

1742.  Collins, Passions (1807), 141. [Runnels] Dashing soft from rocks around.

1820.  Keats, St. Agnes, xxix. Then by the bed-side … soft he set A table.

  b.  With or at a slow or leisurely pace; not hastily or hurriedly.

1390.  Gower, Conf., I. 100. He set hire on his hors tofore And forth he takth his weie softe.

c. 1400.  Laud Troy-Bk., 2982. Polidonias Come afftirward with qwene Eleyne, Rydyng soffte vpon the pleyne.

c. 1460.  Towneley Myst., XXI. 211. All soft may men go far.

1550.  Crowley, Last Trump, 895. Thou hast forgotten to go soft, thou art so hasty on thy way.

1748.  Thomson, Cast. Indol., II. xxi. Or where old Cam soft-paces o’er the lea In pensive mood.

  4.  In a low voice or tone; with a soft, melodious or pleasing sound; not loudly or harshly.

c. 1290.  S. Eng. Leg., I. 232. Þis Monckes beden seint Brendan, þat he softe speke.

1297.  R. Glouc. (Rolls), 9769. Þis godeman sat adoun akne … & wel softe … sede þis orison.

1422.  trans. Secreta Secret., Priv. Priv., 187. The wys man wenethe he Softe laghyth.

1470–85.  Malory, Arthur, V. v. 167. She … sayd Syre knyghte speke softe, for yonder is a deuyll.

a. 1536.  Songs, Carols, etc. (E.E.T.S.), 118. Syng softe, I say, leste yowr nose blede.

1590.  Spenser, F. Q., II. xii. 71. The waters fall with difference discreet, Now soft, now loud.

1603.  Shaks., Meas. for M., IV. i. 69. Little haue you to say When you depart from him, but soft and low, Remember now my brother.

a. 1763.  Shenstone, Nancy of Vale, iii. Wks. 1777, I. 128. When from an hazle’s artless bower Soft warbled Strephon’s tongue.

1784.  Cowper, Task, III. 779. And streams … Now murm’ring soft, now roaring in cascades.

1820.  Keats, Lamia, II. 199. Soft went the music the soft air along.

1896.  A. E. Housman, Shropshire Lad, lii. The wanderer … Halts on the bridge to hearken How soft the poplars sigh.

  † 5.  Sweetly, odorously. Obs.^–1

a. 1300.  Cursor M., 9357. Sco smelles better þen piment, And wel softer [Fairf. soter] hir uestement Þan ani recles þat es brent.

  6.  To a slight degree or extent; slightly. rare.

13[?].  Minor Poems fr. Vernon MS., xlix. 371. For muche to bi-hote & ȝiue but softe, Makeþ mon to be chalanged ofte.

1812.  New Botanic Garden, I. 46. The leaves are spear-shaped, soft waved and entire.

  † 7.  Soft and fair(ly), softly, gently, leisurely. Obs. (Cf. 8 b and FAIR adv. 7.)

1390.  Gower, Conf., III. 194. Thus have I told thee softe and faire Mi feith.

1530.  Palsgr., 842/1. Softe and fayre, tout bellement.

1535.  Coverdale, Tobit xi. 3. Let the husholde with thy wife and y^e catell come sort & fayrly after vs.

1565.  Cooper, Thes., Cunctanter, slowly; safte and fayre; leasurely.

1625.  Purchas, Pilgrims, II. 1104. That the Queene should follow soft and faire.

1638.  Junius, Paint. Ancients, 29. The Arts … are in processe of time soft and faire forged by a continuall meditation.

  Prov.  1681.  T. Flatman, Heraclitus Ridens, No. 32 (1713), I. 208. Soft and fair goes far in a Day.

a. 1700.  B. E., Dict. Cant. Crew, s.v. Fair, Soft and Fair goes far.

1736.  Ainsworth, I. s.v., Soft and fair goeth far, festina lente.

  8.  Used as an exclamation with imperative force, either to enjoin silence or deprecate haste. Freq. preceded by but, and sometimes followed by you. Now only arch.

  (a)  c. 1550.  Cheke, Matt. xxvii. 49. And y^e resideu said, Soft, let vs se whiyer helias com to save him or no.

c. 1590.  Marlowe, Faustus, ix. D 3 b. Soft sir, a word with you.

1601.  Shaks., Twel. N., I. v. 312. Not too fast: soft, soft. Ibid. (1611), Wint. T., IV. iv. 402. Soft, Swaine, a-while, beseech you.

a. 1822.  Shelley, ‘’Tis midnight now,’ 82. Soft, my dearest angel, stay.

1852.  M. Arnold, Tristram & Iseult, i. 7. Soft—who is that stands by the dying fire?

  (b)  a. 1566.  R. Edwards, Damon & Pithias (1571), C ij. But soft syrs, I pray you huysh.

1589.  [? Lyly], Pappe w. Hatchet (1844), 22. But soft, I must now make a graue speach.

1639.  N. N., trans. Du Bosq’s Compl. Woman, I. 8. But soft, wee take nothing from Pagans.

a. 1721.  Sheffield (Dk. Buckhm.), Wks. (1753), I. 179. A night … All black, and terrible! but soft! stand close.

1782.  Han. More, Moses, III. 14. No one sees me. But soft, does no one listen!

1820.  Byron, Blues, II. 24. A rabble who know not—But soft, here they come!

  (c)  1599.  George a Greene, Greene’s Wks. (Rtldg.), 256/2. Nay, soft you, sir! you get no entrance here.

1602.  Shaks., Ham., III. i. 88. Soft you now, The faire Ophelia?

1635.  Mede, Wks. (1672), 836. But soft you there, I like not that Method.

  † b.  So soft and fair, soft and peace. Obs.

1576.  Gascoigne, Steele Glas (Arb.), 69. Cruel? nay iust, (yea softe and peace good sir) For Iustice sleepes.

1599.  Shaks., Much Ado, V. iv. 72. Soft and faire Frier, which is Beatrice?

1611.  Cotgr., Tout beau, take your leisure, soft and faire, not too fast.

1712.  Arbuthnot, John Bull (1727), 63. Soft and fair, gentlemen, quoth I; my mother’s my mother.

  II.  Comb. 9. With pres. pples. (or advs. from these), as soft-brushing, -circling, -ebbing, etc.

  Similar examples, but unhyphened, are freq. in 18th-cent. poetry.

1606.  Sylvester, Du Bartas, II. iv. II. Magnificence, 701. One, in the fresh shade of an Apple-Tree, Lets hang its Quiver, while soft-pantingly ’T exhales hot Vapour.

1667.  Milton, P. L., VII. 300. Wave rowling after Wave,… If steep, with torrent rapture, if through Plaine, Soft-ebbing.

1710.  Philips, Pastorals, ii. 6. Their Notes soft-warb’ling to the gladsome Spring.

1726.  Pope, Odyss., XVII. 310. They heard, soft-circling in the sky, Sweet Airs ascend.

1743.  Francis, trans. Horace, Odes, III. xi. 18. II. 57. The Dog of Hell, In Suppliance low, to Thee soft-soothing fell.

1820.  Keats, Lamia, I. 43. The God … soft-brushing, in his speed, The taller grasses.

1875.  Longf., Hanging of Crane, iv. 22. Limpid as planets … Soft-shining through the summer night.

  b.  In attributive use.

  Freq. in 18th-cent. poetry; many examples are given by Jodrell.

1612.  Drayton, Poly-olb., III. 401. As some soft-sliding rill … Extends itself at length unto a goodly stream.

1648.  J. Beaumont, Psyche, IV. ccxlv. By the side Of some soft-murmuring Current.

1743.  Francis, trans. Horace, Odes, III. xix. 20. II. 95.

1768–74.  Tucker, Lt. Nat. (1834), II. 263. Benign, soft-shining goddess [Hope].

1791.  Coleridge, Mathem. Problem, iii. The soft-flowing daughter of fright.

1816.  J. Wilson, City of Plague, Poems 1825, I. 299. Sinking down As through soft-yielding waters murmuring round me.

1827.  Keble, Chr. Year, Visitation Sick, The light from those soft-smiling eyes.

1836.  Mrs. Browning, Poet’s Vow, II. xiii. The silence left By that soft-throbbing speech.

1892.  Gunter, Miss Dividends, 13. But here a soft-treading waiter knocks upon the door.

  10.  With pa. pples., as soft-bedded, -extended, -roast(ed), etc.

1558.  Warde, trans. Alexis’ Secr., 26 b. A new laied Egge, soft roste.

1725.  Pope, Odyss., VII. 435. There, soft-extended,… Ulysses sleeps profound! Ibid. (1726), XIX. 119. A seat soft spread with furry spoils prepare.

1742.  Young, Nt. Th., IV. 654. Their distant strain,… Soft wafted on celestial pity’s plume.

1831.  Carlyle, Sart. Res., II. ix. Not sufficiently honoured,… soft-bedded, and lovingly cared-for.

  b.  In attributive use.

  Other examples are given by Jodrell.

1597.  A. M., trans. Guillemeau’s Fr. Chirurg., 28/1. We must … first let him suppe in a soft dressed egge.

1648.  J. Beaumont, Psyche, XX. ccxciii. Those lusty Thoughts which in a soft-lay’d Dream [etc.].

1649.  G. Daniel, Trinarch., Hen. V., ccxlviii. Spred the feild ore with Soft-Spun Carcasses.

1682.  Mrs. Behn, City Heiress, 8. The stealth’s of Love, the soft-breath’d murmuring Passion.

1748.  Thomson, Cast. Indol., I. xx. The soft-embodied fays through airy portal stream.

1768.  Phil. Trans., LX. 122. They have shoes of soft-tanned moose skin.

1825.  J. Nicholson, Operat. Mechanic, 481. This soft and soft-glazed pottery is easily scratched by a knife.

a. 1835.  Mrs. Hemans, To the New Born, Poems (1875), 502. Bending o’er thy soft-seal’d eyes.

1893.  W. Prescott Beach, in Outing, XXII. 123/1. The soft-finished, braided raw-silk line.

  11.  With adjs., as soft-bright, -lucent, -slow.

1593.  Shaks., Lucr., 1220 (1594), I 2. Her mistresse shee doth giue demure good morrow, With soft slow-tongue, true marke of modestie.

1837.  Carlyle, Fr. Rev., II. I. iv. Light Apollo, so clear, soft-lucent.

1863.  Ld. Houghton, Sel. fr. Wks., 216. Disparted all those soft-bright diadems.