soften

== English == === Etymology === From Middle English softenen, softnen, equivalent to soft +‎ -en. === Pronunciation === (Received Pronunciation) enPR: sŏfʹen, IPA(key): /ˈsɒfən/ (US, dialectal, lot–cloth split) enPR: sôfʹen, IPA(key): /ˈsɔfən/, (cot–caught merger, General American, dialects of Canada) IPA(key): /ˈsɑfən/, enPR: sŏfʹen (Canada, dialects of the US) enPR: sŏfʹen, IPA(key): /ˈsɒfən/ (Australian) enPR: sôfʹen, IPA(key): /ˈsɔfən/ (New Zealand) enPR: sŏfʹen, IPA(key): /ˈsɒfən/, [ˈsɔ̟fən] === Verb === soften (third-person singular simple present softens, present participle softening, simple past and past participle softened) (transitive) To make something soft or softer. (transitive) To undermine the morale of someone (often soften up). (transitive) To make less harsh. Synonyms: subdue, temper (intransitive) To become soft or softer. (ambitransitive, phonology) To become or make (a consonant) more lenis, to lenite. (Slavic phonology) To palatalize. ==== Derived terms ==== ==== Translations ==== ==== See also ==== mollify neshen === Anagrams === Sefton