soften etymology

Etymology:

• Old English: Softien
• Proto-Germanic: Suftjan
• Proto-Indo-European: *Swép-ti-h₂, *swép-o-s

Meaning:

• To make or become softer, less hard or firm

Origin:

The word "soften" has its roots in the Proto-Indo-European word *swép-ti-h₂, which means "to make sleep." This is because the act of making something softer often involves making it more pliable or pliable, like a person who has fallen asleep.

Over time, the meaning of "soften" evolved to include not only making something more pliable, but also making it less hard or firm. This is likely due to the fact that many things that are pliable are also soft.

Today, "soften" is a common word used in a variety of contexts, from describing the texture of food to the emotional state of a person.

soften relate terms

• soft

  Etymology of soft Old English softe from West Germanic saftiz meaning soft sa

• seem

  Etymology Middle English from Old English sēon of Germanic origin related to German

• same

  Etymology is the study of the history of words their origins and how their form and mean

• hard

  Etymology Hard is an adjective derived from the Old English word heard meaning stro

• softener

  Etymology Late Middle English sofnere from Anglo Norman French softener from Old Fre

• soften

  Etymology Old English Softien Proto Germanic Suftjan Proto Indo European Swép ti h

• darken

  Etymology Darken comes from the Old English word deorc meaning dark obscure or evil

• weaken

  Etymology Weaken comes from the Old English word wacian meaning to become weak or to

• sharpen

  Etymology of sharpen The word sharpen comes from the Old English word scearpian w

• yield

  Etymology Old English ġieldan meaning to pay render submit surrender Meaning

• relent

  Etymology Late 14th century from French relenquir from re again back lenquir

• emollient

  Etymology Latin emollire to soften Proto Indo European mel to grind crush so

• assuage

  Etymology Origin Latin assuagere meaning to soothe soften relieve Root suavis

• mollify

  Etymology The word mollify comes from the Latin word mollifico which is a combinati

• macerate

  Etymology and Meaning macerate verb Meaning To steep or soften a substance

• blunt

  Etymology Middle English blont blunt Old English blund Proto Germanic blundaz Prot

• change

  Etymology Etymology is the study of the origin and development of words It traces words

• modify

  1 Etymology a Definition The study of the history of words including their origins f