(a) Yielding to touch or pressure, physically soft, not hard; of a plant, root, flower, grass, etc.: tender, pliant, not stiff or prickly; also, softened (by boiling, soaking, etc.); of metal: malleable; of stone: relatively deficient in hardness; ~ felinge, a sensation of physical softness; (b) of food: soft in consistency, easily chewable; of eggs, egg yolks: soft-cooked; of a salve, plaster, ointment, etc.: soft in consistency, semiliquid; ~ sope, soft soap, potash soap; (c) of the body, a bodily part: soft to the touch, yielding to pressure, not rigid; also, smooth, hairless [first quot.]; of an abscess, proud flesh, etc.: spongy in texture; of pus: semiliquid; ~ blod, thin blood; ~ flesh, soft tissue, boneless flesh; ~ membres (parties), soft-textured (esp. fatty or fleshy) parts of the body; ~ moder, ?error for L dura mater [see also moder n. 6b. and sefte adj.]; (d) of fabric, thread, clothing, hair, etc.: not stiff, not coarse, fine; pliant, soft-textured; (e) of a bed, seat, cushion, etc.: yielding to the weight of the body, soft, comfortable; also fig.; (f) of ground: yielding to the feet; of a meadow: springy, full of soft vegetation; (g) of water, air: unresisting, yielding; (h) in prov. expressions of comparison.

(a) Of the body or a part of the body as an object of adoration, desire, etc.: tender, delicate; attractive, desirable, embraceable; (b) pleasing, agreeable; pleasant (to the taste or touch); also, pleasant-tasting; -- used fig. [quot. 1340].

(a) Gentle, not rough, not violent; ~ drinke, a soothing draught; -- in fig. context; ~ felinge of this vertu, comprehension of the gentleness of a specific virtue; ~ touchinge of wordes, soothing speech; (b) of a disease: mild, treatable; of fire, coals: slow-burning, not intensely hot; of a medicine, oil, etc.: mild, not strong in action, not highly potent; of smoke: ?mild-scented, not acrid or pungent; of tears: gently falling, not copious, not uncontrollable; (c) quiet, not loud, subdued, low-pitched; also, silent [quot. a1393, 1st]; ben ~ of speche, to be sparing of (one's) speech; (d) mild-tasting; of taste, odor: mild, not pungent or strong.

(a) Of a person, one's heart, a quality of soul, the disposition, etc.: mild-natured, kind, gentle, gracious; of God, Christ, an angel: compassionate, merciful; of one's demeanor, deportment, etc.: gentle, peaceable; also iron. [quot. c1460]; ~ in (of) speche, ~ in word, mild-spoken, gentle of speech; ben maked ~, to be appeased; maken ~, soften (the heart, God's wrath); (b) of an answer, speech, words, etc.: mild, restrained; courteous; soothing; also in proverbs; also, flattering [quot. a1450(?c1350)]; (c) docile, tractable; meek; also in prov. comparison: ~ as lomb; (d) beneficent; of a planet, planetary nature: benevolent, benign; (e) of comfort, love: tender, gentle; (f) of dread: reverent, awed; of sorrow: tender, moving.

(a) Of weather, a season, day, night, etc.: clement, mild, fair; (b) of the sun, sunbeams: shining gently; (c) of rain, raindrops, etc.: falling gently; (d) of wind, a breeze, etc.: blowing gently, balmy; ben ~, to be abated; (e) of the sea: calm, smooth.

Easy (in one's mind); also, in impers. construction: the softere hem was on herte, they were happier in heart.

(a) Easy to endure, not burdensome, tolerable; of a death: easy, painless; of a dream: not troubling; of a judgment: lenient; (b) comfortable, easeful; (c) luxurious, sumptuous; indulgent; (d) slack in performing one's duties, lax, negligent; also, ?lazy [2nd quot.].

(a) Slow, unhurried; slow-moving; of pace, movement, etc.: leisurely, easy; also, stealthy; gon (riden, wenden) a ~ pase, maken ~ pase, riden forth a (the) ~ pase, etc.; (b) of the action of a medicine: gradual; of a fever, death: slow, prolonged.

(a) Physically feeble, frail, infirm; also, of a people, their deeds, courage: weak, unmanly, not bold; (b) easily swayed, compliant; of ~ blod, easily influenced; (c) soft-hearted, sentimental.

In surnames and place names.