Softest definition

Softest





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1 definition found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Soft \Soft\ (s[o^]ft; 115), a. [Compar. {Softer}
     (s[o^]ft"[~e]r); superl. {Softest}.] [OE. softe, AS.
     s[=o]fte, properly adv. of s[=e]fte, adj.; akin to OS.
     s[=a]fto, adv., D. zacht, OHG. samfto, adv., semfti, adj., G.
     sanft, LG. sacht; of uncertain origin.]
     1. Easily yielding to pressure; easily impressed, molded, or


        cut; not firm in resisting; impressible; yielding; also,
        malleable; -- opposed to {hard}; as, a soft bed; a soft
        peach; soft earth; soft wood or metal.
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     2. Not rough, rugged, or harsh to the touch; smooth;
        delicate; fine; as, soft silk; a soft skin.
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              They that wear soft clothing are in king's houses.
                                                    --Matt. xi. 8.
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     3. Hence, agreeable to feel, taste, or inhale; not irritating
        to the tissues; as, a soft liniment; soft wines. "The
        soft, delicious air." --Milton.
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     4. Not harsh or offensive to the sight; not glaring; pleasing
        to the eye; not exciting by intensity of color or violent
        contrast; as, soft hues or tints.
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              The sun, shining upon the upper part of the clouds .
              . . made the softest lights imaginable. --Sir T.
                                                    Browne.
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     5. Not harsh or rough in sound; gentle and pleasing to the
        ear; flowing; as, soft whispers of music.
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              Her voice was ever soft,
              Gentle, and low, -- an excellent thing in woman.
                                                    --Shak.
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              Soft were my numbers; who could take offense?
                                                    --Pope.
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     6. Easily yielding; susceptible to influence; flexible;
        gentle; kind.
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              I would to God my heart were flint, like Edward's;
              Or Edward's soft and pitiful, like mine. --Shak.
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              The meek or soft shall inherit the earth. --Tyndale.
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     7. Expressing gentleness, tenderness, or the like; mild;
        conciliatory; courteous; kind; as, soft eyes.
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              A soft answer turneth away wrath.     --Prov. xv. 1.
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              A face with gladness overspread,
              Soft smiles, by human kindness bred.  --Wordsworth.
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     8. Effeminate; not courageous or manly, weak.
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              A longing after sensual pleasures is a dissolution
              of the spirit of a man, and makes it loose, soft,
              and wandering.                        --Jer. Taylor.
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     9. Gentle in action or motion; easy.
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              On her soft axle, white she paces even,
              And bears thee soft with the smooth air along.
                                                    --Milton.
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     10. Weak in character; impressible.
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               The deceiver soon found this soft place of Adam's.
                                                    --Glanvill.
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     11. Somewhat weak in intellect. [Colloq.]
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               He made soft fellows stark noddies, and such as
               were foolish quite mad.              --Burton.
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     12. Quiet; undisturbed; paceful; as, soft slumbers.
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     13. Having, or consisting of, a gentle curve or curves; not
         angular or abrupt; as, soft outlines.
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     14. Not tinged with mineral salts; adapted to decompose soap;
         as, soft water is the best for washing.
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     15. (Phonetics)
         (a) Applied to a palatal, a sibilant, or a dental
             consonant (as g in gem, c in cent, etc.) as
             distinguished from a guttural mute (as g in go, c in
             cone, etc.); -- opposed to {hard}.
         (b) Belonging to the class of sonant elements as
             distinguished from the surd, and considered as
             involving less force in utterance; as, b, d, g, z, v,
             etc., in contrast with p, t, k, s, f, etc.
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     {Soft clam} (Zool.), the common or long clam ({Mya
        arenaria}). See {Mya}.
  
     {Soft coal}, bituminous coal, as distinguished from
        anthracite, or hard, coal.
  
     {Soft crab} (Zool.), any crab which has recently shed its
        shell.
  
     {Soft dorsal} (Zool.), the posterior part of the dorsal fin
        of fishes when supported by soft rays.
  
     {Soft grass}. (Bot.) See {Velvet grass}.
  
     {Soft money}, paper money, as distinguished from coin, or
        hard money. [Colloq. U.S.]
  
     {Soft mute}. (Phonetics) See {Media}.
  
     {Soft palate}. See the Note under {Palate}.
  
     {Soft ray} (Zool.), a fin ray which is articulated and
        usually branched.
  
     {Soft soap}. See under {Soap}.
  
     {Soft-tack}, leavened bread, as distinguished from
        {hard-tack}, or {ship bread}.
  
     {Soft tortoise} (Zool.), any river tortoise of the genus
        Trionyx. See {Trionyx}.
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