a. [SOFT a. 29.] Having a soft or susceptible heart; tender-hearted.
1593. Shaks., 2 Hen. VI., III. ii. 307. Fye Coward woman, and soft harted wretch.
1602. Marston, Ant. & Mel., I. Wks. 1856, I. 17. Why weepes soft hearted Florisell?
1648. J. Beaumont, Psyche, XVIII. ix. Hear then, O all soft-hearted Turtles.
1782. Miss Burney, Cecilia, V. x. The soft-hearted Mr. Arnott.
1840. Dickens, Old C. Shop, xiv. He was only a soft-hearted grateful fellow.
1881. Jowett, Thucyd., I. 195. Do not be soft-hearted at the sight of their distress.
Hence Soft-heartedness.
1580. Hollyband, Treas. Fr. Tong, Mercy, pitie, mercie, softhartednesse.
1808. Edin. Rev., XII. 273. A sort of softheartedness towards the sufferings of individuals.
1874. Contemp. Rev., Oct., 711. A reputation for soft-heartedness goes far with the crowd.
