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From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.44 [gcide]:
Soft \Soft\ (s[o^]ft; 115), adjective [Compar. {Softer} (s[o^]ft"[~e]r); superl. {Softest}.] [OE. softe, AS. s[=o]fte, properly adverb of s[=e]fte, adjective; akin to OS. s[=a]fto, adverb, D. zacht, OHG. samfto, adverb, semfti, adjective, G. sanft, LG. sacht; of uncertain origin.]
1. Easily yielding to pressure; easily impressed, molded, or cut; not firm in resisting; impressible; yielding; also, malleable; -- 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.
They that wear soft clothing are in king's houses. --Matt. xi. 8.
3. Hence, agreeable to feel, taste, or inhale; not irritating to the tissues; as, a soft liniment; soft wines. ''The soft, delicious air.'' --Milton.
4. Not harsh or offensive to the sight; not glaring; pleasing to the eye; not exciting by intensity of color or violent contrast; as, soft hues or tints.
The sun, shining upon the upper part of the clouds . . . made the softest lights imaginable. --Sir T. Browne.
5. Not harsh or rough in sound; gentle and pleasing to the ear; flowing; as, soft whispers of music.
Her voice was ever soft, Gentle, and low, -- an excellent thing in woman. --Shak.
Soft were my numbers; who could take offense? --Pope.
6. Easily yielding; susceptible to influence; flexible; gentle; kind.
I would to God my heart were flint, like Edward's; Or Edward's soft and pitiful, like mine. --Shak.
The meek or soft shall inherit the earth. --Tyndale.
7. Expressing gentleness, tenderness, or the like; mild; conciliatory; courteous; kind; as, soft eyes.
A soft answer turneth away wrath. --Prov. xv. 1.
A face with gladness overspread, Soft smiles, by human kindness bred. --Wordsworth.
8. 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. --Jer. Taylor.
9. Gentle in action or motion; easy.
On her soft axle, white she paces even, And bears thee soft with the smooth air along. --Milton.
10. Weak in character; impressible.
The deceiver soon found this soft place of Adam's. --Glanvill.
11. Somewhat weak in intellect. [Colloq.]
He made soft fellows stark noddies, and such as were foolish quite mad. --Burton.
12. Quiet; undisturbed; paceful; as, soft slumbers.
13. Having, or consisting of, a gentle curve or curves; not angular or abrupt; as, soft outlines.
14. Not tinged with mineral salts; adapted to decompose soap; as, soft water is the best for washing.
15. (Phonetics) (a) Applied to a palatal, a sibilant, or a dental consonant (as g in gem, c in cent, etc.) as distinguished from a guttural mute (as g in go, c in cone, etc.); -- opposed to {hard}. (b) Belonging to the class of sonant elements as distinguished from the surd, and considered as involving less force in utterance; as, b, d, g, z, v, etc., in contrast with p, t, k, s, f, etc.
{Soft clam} (Zo["o]l.), the common or long clam ({Mya arenaria}). See {Mya}.
{Soft coal}, bituminous coal, as distinguished from anthracite, or hard, coal.
{Soft crab} (Zo["o]l.), any crab which has recently shed its shell.
{Soft dorsal} (Zo["o]l.), 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} (Zo["o]l.), 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} (Zo["o]l.), any river tortoise of the genus Trionyx. See {Trionyx}.
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