Middle English Dictionary Entry
soft(e adv.
Entry Info
| Forms | soft(e adv. Also (K) zofte. |
| Etymology | OE sōfte adv. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
With soft wrappings, in soft material; ben ~ folden, to be enfolded softly; ben ~ furred, be furnished with soft fur.
Associated quotations
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.Cl.(Manly-Rickert)E.583 : He..bad this sergeant that he pryuely Sholde this child softe wynde and wrappe With all circumstances tendrely.
- c1400(?c1390) Gawain (Nero A.10)1929 : His surkot semed hym wel, þat softe watz forred.
- a1450 Yk.Pl.(Add 35290)144/196 : I pray þe Marie, happe hym warme And sette hym softe þat he noght syle.
- c1450(?a1400) Wars Alex.(Ashm 44)2401 : Þat Iowell..was full sekirly & soft all in silke falden.
- ?a1500 Henslow Recipes (Henslow)46/15 : Do hit in a cloþ, and ley hit to þe felon or to þe postom and hele hit softe with-oute eny tret.
2.
(a) Tenderly, gently; with affection, lovingly; fostren up (yemen) ~, to rear (a child) tenderly; (b) pleasantly, agreeably.
Associated quotations
a
- a1325 SLeg.Swithin (Corp-C 145)60 : A mason sone þis womman inis folie nom, And biclupte hure in ribaudie..he ne handlede hure noȝt softe.
- c1330(?c1300) Guy(1) (Auch)605 : Take him vp in þine armes to & lay him soft on þe grounde.
- (c1385) Chaucer CT.Kn.(Manly-Rickert)A.1021 : They founde..Two yonge knyghtes..Nat fully quyk ne fully dede..And han hem caried softe vnto the tente Of Theseus.
- (c1385) Chaucer CT.Kn.(Manly-Rickert)A.2781 : Softe take me in your armes tweye.
- c1390 Þe mon þat is (Vrn)165 : Heore bodies..weoren..softe I-baþen And I-brouȝt forþ wiþ Mete and drynk.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.ML.(Manly-Rickert)B.275 : Thy wrecched child Custaunce, Thy yonge doghter fostred vp so softe..Custaunce youre child hir recomaundeth ofte Vnto youre grace.
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.Mch.(Manly-Rickert)E.2414 : This Ianuarie..kisseth hire and clippeth hire ful ofte And on hir wombe he stroketh hire ful softe.
- a1400(?c1280) SLeg.Nativ.M&C (Stw 949)595 : He bar him to þe temple an hey and leyde him þere wel softe.
- a1400(?a1350) Siege Troy(1) (Eg 2862)23/260 : Þe Child was ȝemed faire and softe.
- c1400(c1378) PPl.B (LdMisc 581)20.308,311 : Ȝif any surgien were [in] þe sege þat softer couth plastre..Ther is a surgiene in þis sege þat soft can handle..and fairer he plastreth.
- a1450(?c1421) Lydg.ST (Arun 119)4287 : Polymytes..alighte doun..Of loue only handlyng hym ryght softe.
- a1425(c1385) Chaucer TC (Benson-Robinson)2.650 : Criseyda gan al his chere aspien, And leet it so softe in hire herte synke.
- a1425 Hayle bote (Wht)233 : Schew him thi handes þat handild hym soft.
- c1430(c1386) Chaucer LGW (Benson-Robinson)2708 : She..in hyre armes gan hym to enbrace, And hym she roggeth and awaketh softe.
- a1500(a1450) Gener.(2) (Trin-C O.5.2)1497 : They..layde hym soft and fayr Down Atte lowest foote of all the stayre.
b
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Bod 959)Prov.23.31 : It shal gon in softe [WB(2): swetli; L blande], but in þe laste it shal biten as a shadewe eddere.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)58 : Þat soft began has endyng smart.
3.
(a) Gently, not vigorously, without force; without violence; easily, not roughly; also in proverb; ~ chaufinge medecines, moderately warming medicines; (b) loosely; (c) quietly; in a low voice; silently, noiselessly; also, stealthily, unobtrusively.
Associated quotations
a
- a1325 Add.46919 Cook.Recipes (Add 46919)54.51/3 : Mon saiþ þe laumprey mak scorchen, &..mak hit al tohewen..mak hit softe boillen, & meddle wiþ speces.
- (c1380) Chaucer CT.SN.(Manly-Rickert)G.531 : Ther was..an ordinaunce That no man sholde doon man swich penaunce The ferthe strook to smyten, softe or soore.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Ph.(Manly-Rickert)C.252 : She preyed hym ful ofte That with his swerd he wolde smyte softe.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)5.5025 : He..Betwen him and his Asse al softe Hath drawe and set him up alofte Withouten harm al esely.
- a1400 Cursor (Göt Theol 107)8043 : Þe king cam ner þas tres..drow þaim vp soft i-nogh, widuten breking of any bow.
- c1400 Form Cury (Hrl 1605)145.205/7 : Set hyt fro þo fyre & styre hit soft & let hit cole.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)1.784 : Who clymbeth hyȝe may not falle softe.
- ?a1425 *MS Htrn.95 (Htrn 95)97a/a : Parte þe flesche & þe braine panne softe & feire with a rasour.
- ?c1425 Chauliac(2) (Paris angl.25)326/24 : To make þe remedie þere ben in þe purpose softe chaufinge medecynes þe whiche maken þe superfluyte of blode to swage softely and insensibly, i. nouȝt yfeled, in resoluynge.
- a1450 Hrl.Cook.Bk.(1) (Hrl 279)22 : Take Vernage..& caste þer-to a gode quantyte of pouder Canelle..& þanne wrynge it soft þorw a straynoure.
- c1460(?c1400) Beryn (Nthld 55)2746 : There nys thing in erth þat he [leopard] so much doith hate As breth of mannys mowith; wherfor refreyn the And blowe but fair & sofft & when that nede be.
- c1475(1392) *MS Wel.564 (Wel 564)64a/b : Drawe softe þi þreed þat boþe þe two hedis of þilke senewis so y-kuttid mowen euene ioyne togideris.
- c1475 *Mondeville (Wel 564)160a/b : Þanne fle þe fleisch fro þe brayne panne softe and faire wiþ a rasure.
- a1475 *Sidrak & B.(Lnsd 793)10234 : As sone as þe flood wiþdrow, Þe shippe was set softe ynow Vpon a greet hil.
- 1598(a1475) Flower & L.(Speght)4 : Shoures swete of rain discended soft.
b
- c1475 *Mondeville (Wel 564)149b/b : Þe byndynge of þe wounde in as myche streyned euene in mesure neiþir to faste neiþir to softe.
- c1475 *Mondeville (Wel 564)150a/a : Euery byndynge schal constreyne in a meene, neiþir to softe neiþir to harde..þat it greue þe pacient sumdel but not myche.
c
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)13283 : Þæs cnihtes siȝen þurh þene wude wunder ane softe.
- c1300 SLeg.Brendan (LdMisc 108)449 : Þis Monekes beden seint brendan þat he softe speke So þat he ne a-weiȝte nouȝt þe fisches.
- a1325(c1280) SLeg.Pass.(Pep 2344)1079 : Oure lord..him-sulf softe stey Myd his þreo disciples vp þe hulle an hey.
- c1325(c1300) Glo.Chron.A (Clg A.11)9769 : Þis godeman sat adoun..& wel softe..sede þis orison.
- a1375(1335-1361) WPal.(KC 13)704 : Þanne seide he to him-self, sikinde ful soft, [etc.].
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Mil.(Manly-Rickert)A.3786 : Ful softe out at the dore he gan to stele.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)4.1059 : Thei have her flyht begonne Out of the prison faire and softe.
- c1400(?c1380) Patience (Nero A.10)469 : Syþen he warnez þe west to waken ful softe.
- a1425(c1385) Chaucer TC (Benson-Robinson)1.279 : Therwith his herte gan to sprede and rise, And softe sighed, lest men myghte hym here.
- a1425(c1385) Chaucer TC (Benson-Robinson)3.698 : He..gan the stuwe doore al softe unpynne, And stille as stoon..By Troilus adown right he hym sette.
- c1450(c1440) Scrope Othea (StJ-C H.5)41/26 : Mercurius, that softe singeth, With his floite the pepill enchaunteth.
- a1450(c1410) Lovel.Grail (Corp-C 80)28.369 : Neuere so soft ne Cowde he [Nasciens] gon, that Al the bed be-gan to qwaken.
- a1500(1422) Yonge SSecr.(Rwl B.490)187/23 : The wys man wenethe he Softe laghyth.
- ?c1500 It fell ageyns (Roy 19.B.4)10 : Whan he cam all in the croofte, there he stalkyd wundirfull soofte.
- c1525 Rule & T.St.Francis(2) (Fst D.4)575 : Also we exhorte the brethern that they wille speke softe and religiusly in euery place and specially in the dormitory.
4.
(a) Courteously; mildly, peaceably; patiently, with forbearance; ~ and faire, faire and ~; (b) honorably, honestly, faithfully; faire and ~.
Associated quotations
a
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)3163 : Sillius..wes a..god mon & softe he wolde libben.
- c1225(?c1200) St.Juliana (Bod 34)19/205 : Him þuhte..þet ne bede he iþe worlt nanes cunnes blisse bute hire bodi ane to wealden hire wið wil efter þet he walde, & bigon wið swotnesse soffte to seggen, [etc.].
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)1.3415 : Humblesce..takth ayein, but softe and faire, If eny thing stond in contraire, With humble speche it is redresced.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)3.652 : A wickid wif He weddeth, which in sorwe and strif Ayein his ese was contraire, Bot he spak evere softe and faire.
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.Sum.(Manly-Rickert)D.1771 : 'O Thomas, freend, good day,' Seyde this frere curteisly and softe.
- a1400(c1303) Mannyng HS (Hrl 1701)5835 : He bare hym so meke and softe Shrewes mysded hym.
- a1400(c1303) Mannyng HS (Hrl 1701)10334 : Þys prest..Þat þys man serued so softe, he ne asked hym neuer more when he was, ne how, he com þore.
- a1425(c1385) Chaucer TC (Benson-Robinson)5.347 : God woot, they take it wisly, faire, and softe, Forwhi good hope halt up hire herte o-lofte.
- a1450 PNoster R.Hermit (Westm-S 3)33/17 : Alle hardeschippes þat we þoole softe wolde vs þink, þat ioye for to wynne.
- c1450 ?C.d'Orl.Poems (Hrl 682)47/1399 : For a tyme y soft shalle beren me, To that y haue to me more socoure tan.
- (?c1450) Say the best and (Cmb Hh.4.11)p.337 : Say the best and bere the softe; ontauȝt tunge greuith ofte.
- a1500(?a1390) Mirk Fest.(GoughETop 4)240/8 : Seynt Bartholomew..rebuket þe fendes and commawndyt hom forto bryng hym aȝeyne to hys place, soft and fayre, wythout any harme.
- a1475 *Sidrak & B.(Lnsd 793)10332 : Wise men..bereþ hem faire and softe, Þei no man misseie ne misdo.
b
- a1450(1412) Hoccl.RP (Hrl 4866)2376 : Now if it happe..A kyng in nede borwe of his marchantis, Greet wisdom were it trete faire & softe, And holde hem treuly her couenantis.
- c1460(?c1400) Beryn (Nthld 55)1080 : Fawnus..tauȝte hym feir & sofft, but Beryn toke it liȝt.
5.
(a) Comfortably, in comfort; at ease; lien (slepen) ~; ben set ~, to be in a favorable position; (b) in luxury, luxuriously, sumptuously; (c) leniently, not severely, lightly.
Associated quotations
a
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)1998 : Þer he læi softe &..slepte.
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)11000 : Þat water him glit bisiden and þe mon þer wuneð softe; after his iwille he wuneð þer uul stille.
- a1350 Lord þat lenest (Hrl 2253)27 : Vp o lofte, þe deuel may sitte softe & holden his halymotes ofte.
- c1330(c1250) Floris (Auch)528 : Þai sette hem þere wel softe adoun.
- 1372 Lullay lullay litel child child (Adv 18.7.21)29 : Lullay..litel child, softe slep & faste.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)4.3019 : He scholde slepe softe Upon a fethrebed.
- c1400(?c1390) Gawain (Nero A.10)1121 : Vche burne to his bed watz broȝt at þe laste ful softe.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)3.1993 : Þei wer set softe Be victorie on þe hille a-lofte.
- a1425(c1385) Chaucer TC (Benson-Robinson)3.608 : To the soper, alle and some, Whan tyme was, ful softe they hem sette.
- a1450 Castle Persev.(Folg V.a.354)1146 : Cum, syt here softe, For in abbeys þou dwellyst ful ofte.
- c1450 Spec.Chr.(2) (Hrl 6580)128/4 : To lye softer, to pray schortlyer..be-for god es nothynge more foule.
b
- (1340) Ayenb.(Arun 57)31/16 : Þu hest y-by to zofte y-draȝe uorþ.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)97a/a : Podagra..brediþ in hem [read: hem þat] lyueþ esylyche & softe and trauaileþ not but lite.
c
- (1340) Ayenb.(Arun 57)156/30 : Uor me kan zigge þet zofte he him chasteþ, þet be oþren him chasteþ.
6.
(a) Slowly, at an easy pace; also, gradually; ~ and ~, little by little, gradually; ~ bering, easy-gaited; (b) in proverbs.
Associated quotations
a
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)2776 : Swiðe monie þer fluwen & ferden to Rome & Brennes þe riche softe heom beh æfter.
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)10574 : Fuse we nu forð-ward uaste to-somne, æfne al swa softe swa we nan ufel ne þohten.
- (c1300) Havelok (LdMisc 108)2618 : He foren softe bi þe sti Til he come ney at grimesbi.
- a1325(c1250) Gen.& Ex.(Corp-C 444)3647 : Ðis folc is after softe togen, And hauen swinc in weige drogen.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)1.1725 : Forth he takth his weie softe.
- c1400(c1378) PPl.B (LdMisc 581)14.210 : For þe riche hath moche to rekene and riȝte softe walketh; Þe heigh waye to-heuene-ward oft ricchesse letteth.
- a1425 Wycl.Serm.(Bod 788)1.186 : Sowne comeþ softe, but liȝt comeþ soone.
- ?a1425 My dere sone wher (Lamb 491)115 : If ȝe se ȝour houndis have good wil to renne And draw a weyward fro ȝow, þan sey..'Swef, bon amy, swef!' to make hem soft to go.
- c1450 *Bk.Marchalsi (Hrl 6398)3b : Þan may þu ryde hym fayre and softe, but nowt renne.
- (a1460) Bokenham Sts. (Adv Abbotsford B3)125.154 (v.2:p.322) : She curtesly sent hym hyre own palfrey, a buxum hors and a softe-berynge.
- a1475(?a1430) Lydg.Pilgr.(Vit C.13)12643 : Thys whel hath..iiij spokys strechchyd oute, Vp-on wych..Thow mayst wel thyn syluen reste, Any by ese, soffte and soffte, Clymben tyl thow kome aloffte.
- a1500(a1400) Ipom.(1) (Chet 8009)356 : In to the hall comys Ipomadon..An even pase forthe he paste, Nother to softe ne to faste, But at his owne devyce.
- a1500(?a1400) Firumb.(2) (Fil)1658 : Duk terry..kest hym on a mule ful softe beryng.
- c1500 Horse(3) (Hnt HU 1051)1.421 : A horse hath xviij propretees..cloven croped, esy att sterop, and soft beryng.
b
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)3.1623 : In harde weies men gon softe And er thei clymbe avise hem ofte.
- c1450 Dc.Prov.(Dc 52)p.48 : Fayre and softe me ferre gose.
- c1450 How GMan(2) (Lamb 853)103 : Softe and faire a man may tame Boþe herte and hynde.
- c1450 Pilgr.LM (Cmb Ff.5.30)71 : For softe men fer goth.
- c1450 Ryl.Prov.& R.(Ryl Lat 394)98 : Feyre and softe me goeth ferr.
- c1475(c1450) Idley Instr.(Cmb Ee.4.37)1.619 : Go þou an easy paas and not to farre at oonys; Softe men farre goo.
- a1500(a1460) Towneley Pl.(Hnt HM 1)234/211 : All soft may men go far.