soft (adj.) Copy link Outline I. To the touch1. mollis (soft, yielding2. lēnis, mollis, tĕner (smooth, delicate)3. mītis (of fruit, mellow)4. mollis, lentus (supple)II. To some other sense1. mollis, dēlĭcātus (of the voice)2. lēnis. Of taste3. mollis, lēnis, tempĕrātus, mītis, clēmens, tĕpĭdus (s., mild, gentle)III. Fig.1. flexĭbĭlis, făcĭlis, mollis (in good or bad sense, acc. to the context)2. vŏluptārius, effēmĭnātus, dēlĭcātus, mollis (s., effeminate). Join3. tĕner, mollis (of flowing discourse)4. mītis, clēmens, mansuētus, lēnis (gentle, forbearing, not severe). JoinIV. Tender, winning, persuasiveV. Low, not loud (of the voice, speech, etc.) • soft (adj.): I. To the touch: 1. mollis (soft, yielding: opp. to durus): quid magis est saxo durum? quid mollius unda? Ov. A. A. 1, 476: Hor.: Virg.: s. wax, m. cera, Cic. de Or. 3, 45, 177: s. egg, m. ovum, ovum m. vel sorbile (that may be sucked up), Cels. 2, 18, post med.: the s. part of bread (i. e. crumb), mollia panis, Plin. 13, 12, 26, § 82: somewhat s., molliculus, Plaut.: mollicellus, Cat.: very s., permollis, Quint.: praemollis, Plin. 2. lēnis, mollis, tĕner (smooth, delicate): lenis, opp. gen. to asper, Cic. Fin. 2, 12, 36: s. hand, cheeks, hair, mollis manus, genae, capilli, Ov.: s. down, tenera lanugo, Virg. E. 2, 51. Fig.: tenerae virgines, Hor. Od. 1, 21, 1: mollibus annis, Ov. H. 1, 111: v. tender. 3. mītis (of fruit, mellow): v. mellow. 4. mollis, lentus (supple): m. juncus, acanthus, Virg. Hence of the s. outline of statues: Myron made statues of s.er (i. e. more graceful) outline, molliora signa Myron fecit, Quint. 12, 10, 7: v. flexible. Phr.: s. water (= rain-water), aqua pluvialis, Cels. 2, 18, ad fin. II. To some other sense: 1. mollis, dēlĭcātus (of the voice): Join: m. et d. in cantu flexiones, Cic. de Or. 3, 25, 98. 2. lēnis. Of taste: vinum lenius, Ter. Heaut. 3, 1, 50. Of colour: a very pleasing and s. colour, suavior et lenior color, Plin. 9, 41, 65, § 140. Of sleep: l. somnus, Hor. Od. 3, 1, 21. 3. mollis, lēnis, tempĕrātus, mītis, clēmens, tĕpĭdus (s., mild, gentle): a s. touch, m. tactus, Ov. Pont. 2, 7, 13: cf. m. zephyri, m. hiems, m. aestas: Ov.: Virg.: Tibull.: a s. climate, m. coelum, Flor. 1, 16, init.: cf. loca temperatiora, Caes. B. G. 5, 12: a s. air, tepidus aer, Ov. F. 1, 155. So lenis aura, ventus, spiritus, etc.: Virg.: Tibull.: Hor.: v. mild, gentle (II.). Fig.: s. repose, m. quies, Lucr. 4, 990: cf. lenis somnus, Hor. Od. 3, 1, 21. Of motion: placidus, tacitus, etc.: v. calm, silent, noiseless. III. Fig.: s., yielding (of the mind and character): 1. flexĭbĭlis, făcĭlis, mollis (in good or bad sense, acc. to the context): Join: lenis et facilis, Cic. Fam. 5, 2, 9: v. pliant. 2. vŏluptārius, effēmĭnātus, dēlĭcātus, mollis (s., effeminate). Join: voluptaria, delicata, mollis disciplina, Cic. Fin. 1, 11, 37: cf. delicatior molliorque ratio, ib. 5, 5, 12. (N.B.--For s. = weak in intellect: v. silly.) 3. tĕner, mollis (of flowing discourse): he gave eloquence a s. and tender air, orationem mollem teneramque reddidit, Cic. Brut. 9, 38: cf. oratio m. et t. et flexibilis, id. Or. 16, 52. 4. mītis, clēmens, mansuētus, lēnis (gentle, forbearing, not severe). Join: mitis et mansuetus, opp. ferus et immanis, Cic. Inv. 1, 2, 2: mitis et misericors, Cic.: mitissimus atque lenissimus, Cic.: v. mild, gentle, kind. IV. Tender, winning, persuasive: mollis, blandus: a stubborn breast is overcome by s. entreaty, vincuntur molli pectora dura prece, Tib. 3, 4, 76: to soothe by s. words, verbis mollibus lenire, Hor. Epod. 5, 83: cf. blanda prece, Tib. 3, 6, 46: b. verba, Ov. M. 2, 575. V. Low, not loud (of the voice, speech, etc.): submissus, plăcĭdus, lēnis: vox s. leniter, opp. vox contenta atrociter, Cic. Or. 17, 56. Join: oratio placida, submissa, lenis, Cic. de Or. 2, 43, 183.
SOFT Copy link • SOFTPROP., mollis (not hard; opposed to durus): tener (tender; opposed to asper): mitis (gentle, mild). Very soft, praemollis: soft-boiled eggs, ova mollia or sorbilia. A soft hand, manus mollis (Ov.). A soft voice, vox lenis: a soft air, aër tepidus. [Vid :, also, GENTLE, MILD.] to grow soft [Vid: SOFTEN]. Figuratively, mollis: tener.