Mollifying

Part of speech: adjective, verb

Definitions

1. Reducing the intensity or severity of a situation or feeling ; causing emotions to become less angry or hostile
2. Easing the harshness or seriousness of something ; bringing about a sense of calm or peace in emotional states
3. Diminishing tension or discomfort in circumstances ; soothing feelings to promote reconciliation or tranquility

Etymology: "Mollifying" is the present participle of "mollify," and the verb's core idea is physical: to make something soft. Its root is the Latin "mollis," meaning "soft," which also gave English "mollusc" and "emollient." The Latin verb "mollificare" was formed from that adjective plus the combining element "-ficare," from "facere," "to make," so it literally meant "to make soft." English took the word from Late Latin through Middle English, where it still described softening things. The shift from soft objects to soft tempers happened because softening a hard material was a familiar image for softening a hard heart or a harsh mood. Someone who was mollified was no longer stiff with resentment, just as a leather hide was no longer stiff once worked. That figurative sense is the one that dominates today, so "mollifying" usually describes words, gestures or concessions that calm someone who was angry or upset.

Synonyms: calming, soothing, appeasing

Antonyms: agitating, provoking