emollience

- 4 dictionary results

e⋅mol⋅lient

[i-mol-yuh

nt]

–adjective

1.	having the power of softening or relaxing, as a medicinal substance; soothing, esp. to the skin: emollient lotions for the face.

–noun

2.	an emollient medicine, lotion, salve, etc.

Origin:
1635–45; < L ēmollient- (s. of ēmolliēns) softening up (prp. of ēmollīre), equiv. to ē- e- + molli(s) soft + -ent- -ent

Related forms:

e⋅mol⋅lience, noun

Synonyms:
1. relieving, palliative, healing, assuasive.

Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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Word Origin & History

emollient

1643, from Fr. emollient, from L. emollientem (nom. emolliens), prp. of emollire "soften," from ex- "out" + mollire "soften," from mollis "soft."

Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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Medical Dictionary

Main Entry: ²emollient
Function: noun
: an emollient agent emollient for the hands>

Medical Dictionary

emollient e·mol·lient (ĭ-mŏl'yənt)
adj.
Softening and soothing, especially to the skin. n.
An agent that softens or soothes the skin.

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