v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Softened p. pr. & vb. n. Softening. ] To make soft or more soft. Specifically: -- [ 1913 Webster ]

(a) To render less hard; -- said of matter. [ 1913 Webster ]

Their arrow's point they soften in the flame. Gay. [ 1913 Webster ]

(b) To mollify; to make less fierce or intractable. [ 1913 Webster ]

Diffidence conciliates the proud, and softens the severe. Rambler. [ 1913 Webster ]

(c) To palliate; to represent as less enormous; as, to soften a fault. [ 1913 Webster ]

(d) To compose; to mitigate; to assuage. [ 1913 Webster ]

Music can soften pain to ease. Pope. [ 1913 Webster ]

(e) To make calm and placid. [ 1913 Webster ]

All that cheers or softens life. Pope. [ 1913 Webster ]

(f) To make less harsh, less rude, less offensive, or less violent, or to render of an opposite quality. [ 1913 Webster ]

He bore his great commision in his look,
But tempered awe, and softened all he spoke. Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

(g) To make less glaring; to tone down; as, to soften the coloring of a picture. [ 1913 Webster ]

(h) To make tender; to make effeminate; to enervate; as, troops softened by luxury. [ 1913 Webster ]

(i) To make less harsh or grating, or of a quality the opposite; as, to soften the voice. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. To become soft or softened, or less rude, harsh, severe, or obdurate. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. One who, or that which, softens. [ Written also, less properly, softner. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

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a. & n. from Soften, v. [ 1913 Webster ]

Softening of the brain, or
Cerebral softening (Med.), a localized softening of the brain substance, due to hemorrhage or inflammation. Three varieties, distinguished by their color and representing different stages of the morbid process, are known respectively as red, yellow, and white, softening. [ 1913 Webster ]