Part 541

Soft clam (Zoöl.), the common or long clam (Mya arenaria). See Mya. -- Soft coal, bituminous coal, as distinguished from anthracite, or hard, coal. -- Soft crab (Zoöl.), any crab which has recently shed its shell. -- Soft dorsal (Zoöl.), 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 (Zoöl.), 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 (Zoöl.), any river tortoise of the genus Trionyx. See Trionyx.

Soft (?), n. A soft or foolish person; an idiot. [Colloq.] G. Eliot.

Soft, adv. Softly; without roughness or harshness; gently; quietly. Chaucer.

A knight soft riding toward them.

Spenser.

Soft, interj. Be quiet; hold; stop; not so fast.

Soft, you; a word or two before you go.

Shak.

Sof"ta (?), n. [Corruption of Per. s&?;khtah one who burns, is ardent or zealous.] Any one attached to a Mohammedan mosque, esp. a student of the higher branches of theology in a mosque school. [Written also sophta.]

Sof"ten (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Softened (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Softening.] To make soft or more soft. Specifically: --

(a) To render less hard; -- said of matter.

Their arrow's point they soften in the flame.

Gay.

(b) To mollify; to make less fierce or intractable.

Diffidence conciliates the proud, and softens the severe.

Rambler.

(c) To palliate; to represent as less enormous; as, to soften a fault.

(d) To compose; to mitigate; to assuage.

Music can soften pain to ease.

Pope.

(e) To make calm and placid.

All that cheers or softens life.

Pope.

(f) To make less harsh, less rude, less offensive, or less violent, or to render of an opposite quality.

He bore his great commision in his look, But tempered awe, and softened all he spoke.

Dryden.

(g) To make less glaring; to tone down; as, to soften the coloring of a picture.

(h) To make tender; to make effeminate; to enervate; as, troops softened by luxury.