WordWeight : Weighing the Words

Pronunciation : Soothe
Part of Speech : v.
Etymology : [Originally, to assent to as true; OE. so to verify, AS. ges to prove the truth of, to bear witness. See Sooth, a.]
Definition : 1. To assent to as true. [Obs.] Testament of Love.

2. To assent to; to comply with; to gratify; to humor by compliance; to please with blandishments or soft words; to flatter. Good, my lord, soothe him, let him take the fellow. Shak. I've tried the force of every reason on him, Soothed and caressed, been angry, soothed again. Addison.

3. To assuage; to mollify; to calm; to comfort; as, to soothe a crying child; to soothe one's sorrows. Music hath charms to soothe the savage breast, To soften rocks, or bend a knotted oak. Congreve. Though the sound of Fame May for a moment soothe, it can not slake The fever of vain longing. Byron.

Syn. -- To soften; assuage; allay; compose; mollify; tranquilize; pacify; mitigate.

t. [imp. & p. p. Soothed; p. pr. & vb. n. Soothing.]
Source : Webster's Unabridged Dictionary, 1913