Obs. [f. the adj.]
1. trans. To render (a person, the heart, etc.) less harsh, severe or obdurate; to mollify, appease, pacify.
a. 1225. Ancr. R., 244. Eadie bonen softeð & paieð ure Louerd.
1390. Gower, Conf., I. 318. Witt and resoun conseilen ofte That I myn herte scholde softe.
c. 1430. Pilgr. Lyf Manhode, I. lii. (1869), 31. Whan it is fulfilled with olde sinne, and harded, j softe it, and make it weepe.
c. 1477. Caxton, Jason, 47 b. Ther is no herte of lady so hard but by the vertu of youre requestes muste nedes be softed and molefied.
1533. Bellenden, Livy, V. xiii. (S.T.S.), II. 194. The distributioun of þir landis softit … þe myndis of small pepill.
1594. Spenser, Amoretti, xxxii. Yet cannot all these flames … her hart more harde then yron soft awhit.
b. Const. to and inf.
c. 1430. Life St. Kath. (1884), 90. But anoon porphyry softed þe kepers to consente.
2. To allay, abate or assuage the heat, intensity or pain of (an injury, sore, etc.). Also with double accusative.
(a) a. 1200. St. Marher., 5. Lauerd loke to me, ant haue merci of me, softe me mi sar.
c. 1375. Sc. Leg. Saints, xxxviii. (Adrian), 295. With a faire clath scho clengit þare bilis, & softyt hurtis þat ware sare.
14[?]. Siege Jerus. (E.E.T.S.), 5. Canste þou any … craft vpon erþe To softe þe grete sore þat sitteþ on my cheke?
c. 1440. Promp. Parv., 463/1. Softyn, or esyn of peyne,… mitigo, allevio.
1527. Andrew, Brunswyke’s Distyll. Waters, C iv. It softeth the goute podagra in the fete.
(b) c. 1440. Promp. Parv., 463/1. Softyn, or comfortyn yn sorowe and mornynge, delinio.
c. 1470. Golagros & Gaw., 1055. Wes nowthir solace nor sang thair sorow to soft.
3. To mitigate or moderate, to lower or reduce the intensity of (a passion, emotion, etc.).
c. 1400. Apol. Loll., 112. Wat þat is offrid in felony in þe sacrifice of God it softiþ not, but steriþ his wraþe.
a. 1470. H. Parker, Dives & Pauper (W. de W. 1496), VI. x. 380. The Iacke is softe & nesshe and by his softenesse … softeth & feynteth all strokes þat cometh there ayenst.
1533. Bellenden, Livy, I. iv. (S.T.S.), I. 30. Providing so þai wald soft þe Indignacioun of þare myndis. Ibid., III. xi. 293. His collegis … set þame þe maist presand way þai mycht to soft his preiss.
4. To make (words) plausible or specious.
1382. Wyclif, Ps. liv. 22. Softid ben the woordis of hym vp on oile; and thei ben speris. Ibid., Prov. ii. 16. That thou be take awey fro an alien womman, and fro a straunge, that softeth [L. mollit] hir woordis.
5. To render physically soft. Also in fig. context.
a. 1400. Prymer (1895), 60. Wheþer þou hast not softid me as mylk; and hast cruddid me to-gideres as chese?
c. 1430. Life St. Kath. (1884), 52. The erthe also is softed wyth rayn and aȝeynward made hard wyth froost.
6. refl. To calm or restrain (oneself). rare–1.
c. 1480. Henryson, Fables, Fox, Wolf & Husbandman, xxiii. Schir,… we ar at it almaist; Soft ȝow ane lytill, and ȝe sall se it sone.
7. intr. To become or grow soft in varions senses.
c. 1275. Lay., 12042. Þe wind gan a-legge an þat weder softi.
a. 1340. Hampole, Psalter lxxxiii. 2. My hert softid in swetnes of luf.
Hence † Softing vbl. sb. and ppl. a.
1398. Trevisa, Barth. De P. R., XIX. xlvii. (W. de W., 1495), 890. Bi grete drynesse they be made smothyng and softynge.
14[?]. Siege Jerus. (E.E.T.S.), 6. Þer is a warlich wif … Þat haþ softyng & salue for eche sore out.
1611. Cotgr., Amollissement, a softing, mollifying, making tender. Ibid., Amollissant, softing, mollifying.
