soften

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Softened p. pr. & vb. n. Softening. ] To make soft or more soft. Specifically: -- [ 1913 Webster ]

(a) To render less hard; -- said of matter. [ 1913 Webster ]

Their arrow's point they soften in the flame. Gay. [ 1913 Webster ]

(b) To mollify; to make less fierce or intractable. [ 1913 Webster ]

Diffidence conciliates the proud, and softens the severe. Rambler. [ 1913 Webster ]

(c) To palliate; to represent as less enormous; as, to soften a fault. [ 1913 Webster ]

(d) To compose; to mitigate; to assuage. [ 1913 Webster ]

Music can soften pain to ease. Pope. [ 1913 Webster ]

(e) To make calm and placid. [ 1913 Webster ]

All that cheers or softens life. Pope. [ 1913 Webster ]

(f) To make less harsh, less rude, less offensive, or less violent, or to render of an opposite quality. [ 1913 Webster ]

He bore his great commision in his look,
But tempered awe, and softened all he spoke. Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

(g) To make less glaring; to tone down; as, to soften the coloring of a picture. [ 1913 Webster ]

(h) To make tender; to make effeminate; to enervate; as, troops softened by luxury. [ 1913 Webster ]

(i) To make less harsh or grating, or of a quality the opposite; as, to soften the voice. [ 1913 Webster ]