GNU Collaborative International Dictionary of English
last match results
Found 4 definitions
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Soft (sŏft; 115), a. [Compar. Softer (sŏftˈẽr); superl. Softest.] [OE. softe, AS. sōfte, properly adv. of sēfte, adj.; akin to OS. sāfto, adv., D. zacht, OHG. samfto, adv., semfti, adj., G. sanft, LG. sacht; of uncertain origin.]
1. Easily yielding to pressure; easily impressed, molded, or cut; not firm in resisting; impressible; yielding; also, malleable; -- opposed to hard; as, “a soft bed; a soft peach; soft earth; soft wood or metal.”
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2. Not rough, rugged, or harsh to the touch; smooth; delicate; fine; as, “soft silk; a soft skin.”
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They that wear soft clothing are in king's houses. Matt. xi. 8.
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3. Hence, agreeable to feel, taste, or inhale; not irritating to the tissues; as, “a soft liniment; soft wines”. “The soft, delicious air.” Milton.
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4. Not harsh or offensive to the sight; not glaring; pleasing to the eye; not exciting by intensity of color or violent contrast; as, “soft hues or tints”.
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The sun, shining upon the upper part of the clouds . . . made the softest lights imaginable. Sir T. Browne.
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5. Not harsh or rough in sound; gentle and pleasing to the ear; flowing; as, “soft whispers of music”.
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Her voice was ever soft,
Gentle, and low, -- an excellent thing in woman. Shak.
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Soft were my numbers; who could take offense? Pope.
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6. Easily yielding; susceptible to influence; flexible; gentle; kind.
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I would to God my heart were flint, like Edward's;
Or Edward's soft and pitiful, like mine. Shak.
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The meek or soft shall inherit the earth. Tyndale.
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7. Expressing gentleness, tenderness, or the like; mild; conciliatory; courteous; kind; as, “soft eyes”.
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A soft answer turneth away wrath. Prov. xv. 1.
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A face with gladness overspread,
Soft smiles, by human kindness bred. Wordsworth.
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8. Effeminate; not courageous or manly, weak.
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A longing after sensual pleasures is a dissolution of the spirit of a man, and makes it loose, soft, and wandering. Jer. Taylor.
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9. Gentle in action or motion; easy.
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On her soft axle, white she paces even,
And bears thee soft with the smooth air along. Milton.
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10. Weak in character; impressible.
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The deceiver soon found this soft place of Adam's. Glanvill.
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11. Somewhat weak in intellect. [Colloq.]
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He made soft fellows stark noddies, and such as were foolish quite mad. Burton.
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12. Quiet; undisturbed; paceful; as, “soft slumbers”.
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13. Having, or consisting of, a gentle curve or curves; not angular or abrupt; as, “soft outlines”.
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14. Not tinged with mineral salts; adapted to decompose soap; as, “soft water is the best for washing”.
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15. (Phonetics) (a) Applied to a palatal, a sibilant, or a dental consonant (as g in gem, c in cent, etc.) as distinguished from a guttural mute (as g in go, c in cone, etc.); -- opposed to hard. (b) Belonging to the class of sonant elements as distinguished from the surd, and considered as involving less force in utterance; as, “b, d, g, z, v, etc.”, in contrast with p, t, k, s, f, etc.
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Soft clam (Zool.), the common or long clam (Mya arenaria). See Mya. -- Soft coal, bituminous coal, as distinguished from anthracite, or hard, coal. -- Soft crab (Zool.), any crab which has recently shed its shell. -- Soft dorsal (Zool.), the posterior part of the dorsal fin of fishes when supported by soft rays. -- Soft grass. (Bot.) See Velvet grass. -- Soft money, paper money, as distinguished from coin, or hard money. [Colloq. U.S.] -- Soft mute. (Phonetics) See Media. -- Soft palate. See the Note under Palate. -- Soft ray (Zool.), a fin ray which is articulated and usually branched. -- Soft soap. See under Soap. -- Soft-tack, leavened bread, as distinguished from hard-tack, or ship bread. -- Soft tortoise (Zool.), any river tortoise of the genus Trionyx. See Trionyx.
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Soft (?), n. A soft or foolish person; an idiot. [Colloq.] G. Eliot.
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Soft, adv. Softly; without roughness or harshness; gently; quietly. Chaucer.
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A knight soft riding toward them. Spenser.
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Soft, interj. Be quiet; hold; stop; not so fast.
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Soft, you; a word or two before you go. Shak.
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