▪ I. ˈsoftening, vbl. n.
Also 6 soughtening, 6, 8 softning.
[f. as prec.]
1. a. The action or process of making or becoming soft, in various senses of the adj. Also with a and pl.
| 1568 Turner Herbal iii. 21 It purgeth..gently by soughtening of the belly. 1580 Hollyband Treas. Fr. Tong, Mollification, softning. 1611 Cotgr., Attendrissement, a softening, mollifying. 1719 Waterland Vind. Christ's Div. 223 After the Disguises and Softenings, and Colourings had been carried on so long. 1744 H. Brooke Love & Vanity 124 O such a pretty knack at painting! And all for soft'ning and for sainting! 1802 D. Stewart Life & Writ. Robertson I. 42 To unite in his portraits the truth of nature with the softenings of art. 1853 J. H. Newman Hist. Sk. Ser. ii. i. iii. 105 When their strength declines..there is no softening, no misgiving. 1892 Photogr. Ann. II. 203 After this a general softening (that is to say, the graduating of light into shade). 1919 R. D. Bangay Oscillation Valve 203 Any serious ‘softening’ of the valve will entirely upset its characteristics and action. 1945 Electronic Engin. XVII. 338/3 A high grid leak may very rapidly cause softening of the valve. 1946 Ann. Reg. 1945 214 The constant harping on the subject [of Turkish Armenia] in the Soviet Press, accompanied by attacks on the régime in power in Turkey, conveyed the impression that the familiar process of softening would in due course be followed by a formal demand. 1957 Economist 30 Nov. 809/1 The recent softening of the markets for petroleum products. 1960 N. Mitford Don't tell Alfred xx. 216 When some softening up on these lines had been delivered the campaign settled down to its real objective. 1968 Globe & Mail (Toronto) 13 Jan. b1/2 It was too early to tell whether this marked a reversal of the softening trend in these important loans to businesses. 1977 P. Strevens New Orientations Teaching Eng. ii. 24 The integration of prior ‘softening-up’ with initial presentation and subsequent consolidation and repetition. |
b. Path., esp. in softening of the brain.
| 1830 R. Knox Béclard's Anat. 340 The softening is a very frequent alteration of a part of the central nervous mass. 1835 Cycl. Pract. Med. IV. 5/1 When softening of the brain is accompanied by an increase of bulk. 1843 Graves Syst. Clin. Med. xv. 184 Softening of the heart exists in typhus fever. 1845 Budd Dis. Liver 74 This state of yellow softening. Ibid., Red softening. 1854 Jones & Sieveking Pathol. Anat. 250 White softening..is chiefly met with in the parts most remote from the grey matter. |
2. spec. (See quots.)
| 1728 Chambers Cycl., Softening, in Painting, the mixing and diluting of Colours with the Brush or Pencil. 1881 Raymond Mining Gloss., Softening, of lead, the removal of antimony and other impurities. |
3. attrib., as softening disease, softening tool; softening iron, in leather-working, an iron plate upon which the wetted hides of animals are stretched; softening-machine (see quot. 1875); softening works, works for softening drinking-water.
| 1834 Cooper Good's Study Med. (ed. 4) I. 368 note, In the ramollissement, or softening disease, the spleen never becomes so large as when it is indurated. 1839 Ure Dict. Arts 767 They would not bear working upon the softening iron. Ibid., The softening tool is an iron plate [etc.]. 1875 Knight Dict. Mech. 2238/1 Softening-machine, (Leather,) a machine..for beating the hides in water to saturate them. 1888 Daily News 7 June 6/7 A pumping station and softening works. Ibid., The softening plant. |
b. With up, in sense 4 c of the vb., as softening-up period, softening process, softening raid, softening technique, softening trick.
| 1951 R.A.F. Rev. Apr.–Mar. 32/3 They helped to cover Allied bombers on ‘softening-up’ raids on the European fortress. 1953 L. P. Hartley Go-Between x. 127 The softening-up process, as we should call it now, which he had put me through had been enough. 1954 J. Stein Basic Everyday Encycl. 558/1 This ‘softening-up’ technique broke communications, disrupted production, disorganized civilian existence, destroyed the German air force. 1971 B. W. Aldiss Soldier Erect 229 After a softening up period, another attack was launched. Our attack! 1976 B. Lecomber Dead Weight viii. 90 Leaving the suspect to stew..is the oldest softening-up trick in the book. |
▪ II. softening, ppl. a.
Also 7–8 softning, 8–9 Sc. saftening.
[f. as prec.]
1. Causing to become soft, tender, etc.
| (a) c 1400 Lanfranc's Cirurg. 353 Of mollificatif medicyns or softenyng. 1631 Widdowes Nat. Philos. 36 His oyle for hot and softning nature helpeth diseases of the brest. 1735 Bracken Gentlem. Pocket Farr. 11 note, You ought to keep the Foot..covered with any softning Poultice. 1760–72 H. Brooke Fool of Qual. (1809) II. 151, I got some softening cream, and spread it over the burn. 1861 Paley æschylus (ed. 2) Prometh. 388 note, Reducing a swelling by softening applications. |
| (b) 1643 Milton Divorce viii. Wks. 1851 IV. 39 To unsettle our constancie with timerous and softning suggestions. 1668 Davenant Man's the Master v. i, [Do you] yet strive, with softning pity, to allay that courage? 1729 Law Serious Call xvii. (1761) 293 We may deceive ourselves..with vain and softening comments upon these words. 1794 E. Williams Poems II. 4 He..blended with her glaring hues The soft'ning tints of Art. 1847 Prescott Peru iv. iii. (1850) II. 300 When..time had..thrown its softening veil over the past. 1894 M. Dyan Man's Keeping II. 126 Under the softening shade of her parasol. |
2. Becoming soft, gentle, tender, etc.
| 1730 Thomson Hymn 5 Wide flush the fields; the softening air is balm. 1853 Kane Grinnell Exped. xviii. (1856) 140 With a gradually softening tint. 1865 Dickens Mut. Fr. iii. ii, ‘I can believe that,’ said Miss Abbey, with a softening glance at the little creature. 1898 Allbutt's Syst. Med. V. 250 Occasionally the enlarged and softening glands adhere to a contiguous organ. |