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The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 (gcide)

Soften \Sof"ten\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Softened}; p. pr. & vb.
n. {Softening}.]
To make soft or more soft. Specifically:
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(a) To render less hard; -- said of matter.
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Their arrow's point they soften in the flame.
--Gay.
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(b) To mollify; to make less fierce or intractable.
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Diffidence conciliates the proud, and softens the
severe. --Rambler.
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(c) To palliate; to represent as less enormous; as, to soften
a fault.
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(d) To compose; to mitigate; to assuage.
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Music can soften pain to ease. --Pope.
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(e) To make calm and placid.
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All that cheers or softens life. --Pope.
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(f) To make less harsh, less rude, less offensive, or less
violent, or to render of an opposite quality.
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He bore his great commision in his look,
But tempered awe, and softened all he spoke.
--Dryden.
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(g) To make less glaring; to tone down; as, to soften the
coloring of a picture.
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(h) To make tender; to make effeminate; to enervate; as,
troops softened by luxury.
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(i) To make less harsh or grating, or of a quality the
opposite; as, to soften the voice.
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