Soft

(21), a. [compar. SOFTER; superl. SOFTEST.] [A-S. sōfte, sōft, sēfte, O. Sax. saft, O. D. saeſt, saft, saecht, saeghf, socht, soght, N. D. zacht, O. H. Ger. samft, samfti, sanfti, N. H. Ger. sanftī, L. Ger. sacht, Dan. sagte, Sw. sakta, allied to Icel. séfa, to mitigate, soothe.]

1. Easily yielding to pressure; easily impressed or cut; not firm in resisting; impressible; yielding; — opposed to hard; as, a soft bed; a soft peach; soft earth; soft wood or metal.
2. Not rough, rugged, or harsh to the touch; smooth; delicate; fine; as, soft silk; a soft skin.
3. Hence, agreeable to perceive or feel. “The soft, delicious air.” Milton.
4. Not harsh or offensive to the sight; pleasing to the eye; not exciting by intensity of color or violent contrast; as, soft hues or tints.

The sun, shining on the upper part of the clouds, made the softest lights imaginable. Browne. 5. Not harsh or rough in sound; gentle and pleasing to the ear; as, soft whispers or music. Soft were my numbers; who could take offense? Pope. 6. Easily yielding; susceptible to influence; flexible; mild; gentle; kind; delicate. Her form more soft and feminine. Milton. 7. Effeminate; not courageous or manly; weak. A longing after sensual pleasures is a dissolution of the spirit of a man, and makes it loose, soft, and wandering. Bp. Taylor. 8. Gentle in action or motion; quiet; easy. On her soft axle, while she paces even, She bears thee soft with the smooth air along. Milton.

9. Not tinged with salts, so as to decompose soap; not hard; as, soft water is the best for washing.
10. Easily wrought; malleable; as, soft iron.
11. Weak; impressible. [Rare.]

The deceiver soon found this soft place of Adam’s. Glanville.

12. Easy; quiet; undisturbed; as, soft slumbers.
13. (Pron.) Not pronounced with an abrupt or explosive utterance, but coalescing to some extent with a following letter; — said of certain consonants; as, g when soft is pronounced like j, and c like s, as in gem, gin, cinder, cent, and the like.

Soft solder [solder corrupted from solder], flattery; something which tickles, &c.