Softenynge

Part of speech: noun, verb

Definitions

1. The process of making a surface, material or tone less firm, rough or severe than it was before
2. The act of reducing the hardness, firmness or harshness of something, such as a material, a stance or a sound
3. Making something gentler, more yielding or less intense, whether a physical object, a feeling or a manner of speaking

Etymology: "Softenynge" is a Middle English spelling of the verb "soften," used as a noun for the act of making something soft or gentler. It is not a Modern English word, and the spelling reflects the era before English had standardized orthography, when scribes wrote the same sound many different ways. The root is "soft," from Old English "softe," which meant "pleasant, comfortable, mild" as well as the physical sense of yielding to touch. The Old English verb "sēfte" or "sōfte" was an adjective-derived form meaning "gently, mildly," and the root is related to "sēfa," an Old English word for "mind" or "spirit," though that connection is uncertain and should not be taken as settled. The suffix "-en" was added to "soft" to form the verb "soften," meaning "to make soft." The "-ynge" ending is the Middle English form of the present participle or verbal noun suffix, equivalent to modern "-ing." Together, "softenynge" names the process or result of making something softer, whether a physical object, a harsh tone, or a stern attitude.