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mollify

 - 3 dictionary results

mol⋅li⋅fy

  [mol-uh-fahy]
Use mollify in a Sentence
–verb (used with object), -fied, -fy⋅ing.
1. to soften in feeling or temper, as a person; pacify; appease.
2. to mitigate or reduce; soften: to mollify one's demands.
Origin:
1350–1400; ME < MF mollifier < LL mollificāre, equiv. to L molli(s) soft + -ficāre -fy

Related forms:
mol⋅li⋅fi⋅ca⋅tion, noun
mol⋅li⋅fi⋅er, noun
mol⋅li⋅fy⋅ing⋅ly, adverb
mol⋅li⋅fi⋅a⋅ble, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To mollify
mol·li·fy   (mŏl'ə-fī')   
tr.v.   mol·li·fied, mol·li·fy·ing, mol·li·fies

  1. To calm in temper or feeling; soothe. See Synonyms at pacify.

  2. To lessen in intensity; temper.

  3. To reduce the rigidity of; soften.


[Middle English mollifien, from Old French mollifier, from Late Latin mollificāre : Latin mollis, soft; see mel-1 in Indo-European roots + -ficāre, -fy.]
mol'li·fi'a·ble adj., mol'li·fi·ca'tion (-fĭ-kā'shən) n., mol'li·fi'er n., mol'li·fy'ing·ly adv.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Word Origin & History

mollify 
c.1386 (implied in mollification), "to soften (a substance)," from O.Fr. mollifier, from L. mollificare "make soft, mollify" from mollificus "softening," from L. mollis "soft" + root of facere "to make" (see factitious). Transf. sense of "soften in temper, appease, pacify" is recorded from c.1412.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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