Also 6 soughtening, 6, 8 softning. [f. as prec.]
1. The action of making soft, in various senses of the adj. Also with a and pl.
1568. Turner, Herbal, III. 21. It purgeth … gently by soughtening of the belly.
1580. Hollyband, Treas. Fr. Tong, Mollification, softning.
1611. Cotgr., Attendrissement, a softening, mollifying.
1719. Waterland, Vind. Christ’s Div., 223. After the Disguises and Softenings, and Colourings had been carried on so long.
1744. H. Brooke, Love & Vanity, 124. O such a pretty knack at painting! And all for soft’ning and for sainting!
1802. D. Stewart, Life & Writ. W. Robertson, I. 42. To unite in his portraits the truth of nature with the softenings of art.
1853. J. H. Newman, Hist. Sk., Ser. II. I. iii. 105. When their strength declines … there is no softening, no misgiving.
1892. H. Colebrook, in Photogr. Ann., II. 203. After this a general softening (that is to say, the graduating of light into shade).
b. Path., esp. in softening of the brain.
1830. R. Knox, Béclard’s Anat., 340. The softening is a very frequent alteration of a part of the central nervous mass.
1835. Cycl. Pract. Med., IV. 5/1. When softening of the brain is accompanied by an increase of bulk.
1843. R. J. Graves, Syst. Clin. Med., xv. 184. Softening of the heart exists in typhus fever.
1845. Budd, Dis. Liver, 74. This state of yellow softening. Ibid. Red softening.
1854. Jones & Sieveking, Pathol. Anat., 250. White softening … is chiefly met with in the parts most remote from the grey matter.
2. spec. (See quots.)
1728. Chambers, Cycl., Softening, in Painting, the mixing and diluting of Colours with the Brush or Pencil.
1881. Raymond, Mining Gloss., Softening, of lead, the removal of antimony and other impurities.
3. attrib., as softening disease, tool; softening iron, in leather-working, an iron plate upon which the wetted hides of animals are stretched; softening-machine (see quot. 1875); softening works, works for softening drinking-water.
1834. Cooper, Good’s Study Med. (ed. 4), I. 368, note. In the ramollissement, or softening disease, the spleen never becomes so large as when it is indurated.
1839. Ure, Dict. Arts, 767. They would not bear working upon the softening iron. Ibid. The softening tool is an iron plate [etc.].
1875. Knight, Dict. Mech., 2238/1. Softening-machine. (Leather.) A machine … for beating the hides in water to saturate them.
1888. Daily News, 7 June, 6/7. A pumping station and softening works. Ibid. The softening plant.
