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The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 (gcide)

Softening \Sof"ten*ing\,
a. & n. from {Soften}, v.
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{Softening of the brain}, or {Cerebral softening} (Med.), a
localized softening of the brain substance, due to
hemorrhage or inflammation. Three varieties, distinguished
by their color and representing different stages of the
morbid process, are known respectively as red, yellow, and
white, softening.
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Soften \Sof"ten\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Softened}; p. pr. & vb.
n. {Softening}.]
To make soft or more soft. Specifically:
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(a) To render less hard; -- said of matter.
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Their arrow's point they soften in the flame.
--Gay.
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(b) To mollify; to make less fierce or intractable.
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Diffidence conciliates the proud, and softens the
severe. --Rambler.
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(c) To palliate; to represent as less enormous; as, to soften
a fault.
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(d) To compose; to mitigate; to assuage.
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Music can soften pain to ease. --Pope.
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(e) To make calm and placid.
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All that cheers or softens life. --Pope.
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(f) To make less harsh, less rude, less offensive, or less
violent, or to render of an opposite quality.
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He bore his great commision in his look,
But tempered awe, and softened all he spoke.
--Dryden.
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(g) To make less glaring; to tone down; as, to soften the
coloring of a picture.
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(h) To make tender; to make effeminate; to enervate; as,
troops softened by luxury.
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(i) To make less harsh or grating, or of a quality the
opposite; as, to soften the voice.
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