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soften - 5 dictionary results
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soft⋅en

  [saw-fuhn, sof-uhn]
Use soften in a Sentence
–verb (used with object)
1. to make soft or softer.
–verb (used without object)
2. to become soft or softer.
Origin:
1325–75; ME; see soft, -en 1

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

Antonyms:
1, 2. harden.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To soften
soft·en   (sô'fən, sŏf'ən)   
v.   soft·ened, soft·en·ing, soft·ens

v.   tr.
  1. To make soft or softer.
  2. To undermine or reduce the strength, morale, or resistance of.
  3. To make less harsh, strident, or critical: softened the last paragraph of the letter.
v.   intr.
To become soft or softer.
soft'en·er n.
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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Soften

Sof"ten\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Softened; p. pr. & vb. n. Softening.] To make soft or more soft. Specifically: (a) To render less hard; -- said of matter.

Their arrow's point they soften in the flame. --Gay. (b) To mollify; to make less fierce or intractable.

Diffidence conciliates the proud, and softens the severe. --Rambler. (c) To palliate; to represent as less enormous; as, to soften a fault. (d) To compose; to mitigate; to assuage.

Music can soften pain to ease. --Pope. (e) To make calm and placid.

All that cheers or softens life. --Pope. (f) To make less harsh, less rude, less offensive, or less violent, or to render of an opposite quality.

He bore his great commision in his look, But tempered awe, and softened all he spoke. --Dryden. (g) To make less glaring; to tone down; as, to soften the coloring of a picture. (h) To make tender; to make effeminate; to enervate; as, troops softened by luxury.

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

Soften

Sof"ten\, v. i. To become soft or softened, or less rude, harsh, severe, or obdurate.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.
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Language Translation for : soften
Spanish: suavizar,
German: dämpfen,
Japanese: 柔らげる
More Translations »

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, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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Search another word or see soften on Thesaurus | Reference
NO-SALT Water Softener
 Whole House Electronic Conditioner/ Descaler System. Free S&H. Now $295
 www.equinox-products.com
Soften
 Soften Online. Shop Target.com.
 www.Target.com