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Webster 1913 Edition

Soothe

Soothe

(soōth)
,
Verb.
T.
[
imp. & p. p.
Soothed
;
p. pr. & vb. n.
Soothing
.]
[Originally, to assent to as true; OE.
soðien
to verify, AS.
gesōðian
to prove the truth of, to bear witness. See
Sooth
,
Adj.
]
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.
Shakespeare
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.

Webster 1828 Edition

Soothe

SOOTHE

,
Verb.
T.
[The sense of setting, allaying of softening, would give that of truth, and of sweet, that is, smooth.]
1.
To flatter; to please with blandishments or soft words. Can I soothe tyranny? I've tried the force of every reason on him. Sooth'd and caress'd, been angry, sooth'd again
2.
To soften; to assuage; to mollify; to calm; as, to soothe one in pain or passion; or to soothe pain. It is applied both to persons and things.
3.
To gratify; to please. Sooth'd with his future fame.

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