mollify

mollify
mollify (v.) late 14c., "to soften (a substance)," from O.Fr. mollifier or directly from L.L. mollificare "make soft, mollify" from mollificus "softening," from L. mollis "soft" (see MELT (Cf. melt) (v.)) + root of facere "to make" (see FACTITIOUS (Cf. factitious)). Transferred sense of "soften in temper, appease, pacify" is recorded from early 15c. Related: Mollified; mollifying.

Etymology dictionary. 2014.

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  • Mollify — Mol li*fy, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Mollified}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Mollifying}.] [F. mollifier, L. mollificare; mollis soft + ficare (in comp.) to make. See {Enmollient}, {Moil}, v. t., and { fy}.] 1. To soften; to make tender; to reduce the hardness,… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • mollify — I verb abate, allay, alleviate, ameliorate, appease, assuage, attemper, blunt, calm, check, compose, conciliate, cool, curb, deaden, decrease, diminish, dulcify, dull, ease, give relief, hush, improve, lenire, lessen, lull, make better, mediate,… …   Law dictionary

  • mollify — appease, placate, *pacify, propitiate, conciliate Analogous words: *relieve, allay, mitigate, lighten: *moderate, temper, qualify: abate, lessen, reduce, *decrease Antonyms: exasperate …   New Dictionary of Synonyms

  • mollify — [v] pacify, soothe abate, allay, alleviate, ameliorate, appease, assuage, blunt, calm, compose, conciliate, cool, cushion, decrease, diminish, dulcify, ease, fix up, lessen, lighten, lull, mellow, mitigate, moderate, modify, pacify, patch things… …   New thesaurus

  • mollify — ► VERB (mollifies, mollified) 1) appease the anger or anxiety of. 2) reduce the severity of. DERIVATIVES mollification noun. ORIGIN from Latin mollis soft …   English terms dictionary

  • mollify — [mäl′ə fī΄] vt. mollified, mollifying [ME molifien, MFr mollifier < LL mollificare, to soften < L mollis, soft (< IE * mḷdu , soft < base * mel , to crush > MILL1) + facere, to make, DO1] 1. to soothe the temper of; pacify; appease …   English World dictionary

  • mollify — mol|li|fy [ˈmɔlıfaı US ˈma: ] v past tense and past participle mollified present participle mollifying third person singular mollifies [T] formal [Date: 1400 1500; : French; Origin: mollifier, from Late Latin mollificare, from Latin mollis soft ] …   Dictionary of contemporary English

  • mollify — [[t]mɒ̱lɪfaɪ[/t]] mollifies, mollifying, mollified VERB If you mollify someone, you do or say something to make them less upset or angry. [FORMAL] [V n] The investigation was undertaken primarily to mollify pressure groups. Syn: placate Derived… …   English dictionary

  • mollify — UK [ˈmɒlɪfaɪ] / US [ˈmɑləˌfaɪ] verb [transitive] Word forms mollify : present tense I/you/we/they mollify he/she/it mollifies present participle mollifying past tense mollified past participle mollified formal to make someone feel less angry or… …   English dictionary

  • mollify — mollification, n. mollifier, n. mollifyingly, adv. mollifiable, adj. /mol euh fuy /, v.t., mollified, mollifying. 1. to soften in feeling or temper, as a person; pacify; appease. 2. to mitigate or reduce; soften: to mollify one s demands …   Universalium

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