Part 542

(i) To make less harsh or grating, or of a quality the opposite; as, to soften the voice.

Sof"ten, v. i. To become soft or softened, or less rude, harsh, severe, or obdurate.

Sof"ten*er (?), n. One who, or that which, softens. [Written also, less properly, softner.]

Sof"ten*ing, a. & n. from Soften, v.

Softening of the brain, or Cerebral softening (Med.), a localized softening of the brain substance, due to hemorrhage or inflammation. Three varieties, distinguished by their color and representing different stages of the morbid process, are known respectively as red, yellow, and white, softening.

Soft"-finned` (?), a. (Zoöl.) Having the fin rays cartilaginous or flexible; without spines; -- said of certain fishes.

Soft"-head`ed (?), a. Weak in intellect.

Soft"-heart`ed (?), a. Having softness or tenderness of heart; susceptible of pity or other kindly affection; gentle; meek. -- Soft"-heart`ed*ness, n.

Soft"ish (?), a. Somewhat soft. De Witt Clinton.

Soft"ling (?), n. A soft, effeminate person; a voluptuary. [R.] Bp. Woolton. .

Soft"ly, adv. In a soft manner.

Soft"ner (?), n. See Softener.

Soft"ness (?), n. [AS. s&?;ftness, s&?;ftnyss.] The quality or state of being soft; -- opposed to hardness, and used in the various specific senses of the adjective.

Soft"-shell` (?), Soft"-shelled` (?), } a. Having a soft or fragile shell.

Soft-shell clam (Zoöl.), the long clam. See Mya. -- Soft-shelled crab. (Zoöl.) See the Note under Crab, 1. -- Soft-shelled turtle. (Zoöl.) Same as Soft tortoise, under Soft.

Soft"-spo`ken (?), a. Speaking softly; having a mild or gentle voice; hence, mild; affable.

Sog"gi*ness (?), n. The quality or state of being soggy; soddenness; wetness.

Sog"gy (?), a. [Compar. Soggier (?); superl. Soggiest.] [Cf. Icel. söggr damp, wet, or E. soak.] Filled with water; soft with moisture; sodden; soaked; wet; as, soggy land or timber.

So*ho" (?), interj. Ho; -- a word used in calling from a distant place; a sportsman's halloo. Shak.

||Soi`-di`sant" (?), a. [F.] Calling himself; self-styled; pretended; ||would-be.

Soil (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Soiled (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Soiling.] [OF. saoler, saouler, to satiate, F. soûler, L. satullare, fr. satullus, dim. of satur sated. See Satire.] To feed, as cattle or horses, in the barn or an inclosure, with fresh grass or green food cut for them, instead of sending them out to pasture; hence (such food having the effect of purging them), to purge by feeding on green food; as, to soil a horse.

Soil, n. [OE. soile, F. sol, fr. L. solum bottom, soil; but the word has probably been influenced in form by soil a miry place. Cf. Saloon, Soil a miry place, Sole of the foot.] 1. The upper stratum of the earth; the mold, or that compound substance which furnishes nutriment to plants, or which is particularly adapted to support and nourish them.

2. Land; country.

Must I thus leave thee, Paradise? thus leave Thee, native soil?

Milton.

3. Dung; fæces; compost; manure; as, night soil.

Improve land by dung and other sort of soils.

Mortimer.