soften

Everyday

1. To soften means to become softer or to make something softer («soften the butter»). tree →
2. To soften means to become or make something gentler, kinder or less strong («soften the blow», «her face softened»). tree →

In the lessons

In science and cooking, heat softens butter, chocolate and wax; water softens clay and dry bread. In everyday life and stories people soften their voice or words to be kind, and an angry face softens when someone calms down. Phrases: «soften the blow», «soften up», «softened butter».

Examples

• Leave the butter out to soften before baking. tree →
• The sun softened the chocolate in my pocket. tree →
• Her face softened when she saw the kitten. tree →
• Soak the beans to soften them. tree →
• Try to soften your voice when you speak to the baby. tree →
• Dad softened the bad news with a hug. tree →
• Heat softens the wax so you can shape it. tree →
• The ice cream softened quickly on the warm plate. tree →
• The eyes of women brightened and softened when they looked at me. tree →

Note

The t is silent: SOF-en. Regular verb: «softened». Opposite: «harden». Related: «soft», «softener» (fabric softener).

In Jewish tradition

Here it means giving a letter its lighter, unstressed sound instead of its hard one.

Interpretation. The two voices of the double letters are read as showing how each thing in creation can have two opposite sides.

Examples

• The two sounds of each letter are the hard and the soft—the aspirated and the softened. (Sefer Yetzirah, Westcott 1893) tree →
• The two sounds of each letter are the hard and the soft — the aspirated and the softened. (Sefer Yetzirah, Westcott 1893) tree →
• There were formed seven double letters, Beth, Gimel, Daleth, Kaph, Pe, Resh, Tau, each has two voices, either aspirated or softened. (Sefer Yetzirah, Westcott 1887) tree →

Note

The t is silent: SOF-en. Regular verb: «softened». Opposite: «harden». Related: «soft», «softener» (fabric softener).