soften

[saw-fuhn, sof-uhn] Origin

soft·en

[saw-fuhn, sof-uhn]
verb (used with object)
1.
to make soft or softer.
verb (used without object)
2.
to become soft or softer.

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Soften is one of our favorite verbs.
So is peculate. Does it mean:
to steal or take dishonestly (money, esp. public funds, or property entrusted to one's care); embezzle.
to run away hurriedly; flee.

Origin:
1325–75; Middle English; see soft, -en1

o·ver·soft·en, verb
re·sof·ten, verb
un·soft·en·ing, adjective


1. melt; mollify, mitigate, soothe, alleviate, calm, quiet, ease.


1, 2. harden.

Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2012.
Cite This Source Link To soften
Collins
World English Dictionary
soften (ˈsɒfən)
 
vb
1.  to make or become soft or softer
2.  to make or become gentler
3.  (intr) commerce
 a.  (of demand, a market, etc) to weaken
 b.  (of a price) to fall

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
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Etymonline
Word Origin & History

soften
c.1385, "to mitigate, diminish," from soft (adj.). Meaning "to make physically soft" is from 1530; intrans. sense of "to become softer" is attested from 1611.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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