Softening \Sof"ten*ing\, a. & n. from Soften, v.

Softening of the brain, or Cerebral softening (Med.), a localized softening of the brain substance, due to hemorrhage or inflammation. Three varieties, distinguished by their color and representing different stages of the morbid process, are known respectively as red, yellow, and white, softening.

Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)
 

Soften \Sof"ten\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Softened; p. pr. & vb. n. Softening.]

To make soft or more soft. Specifically:
   (a) To render less hard; -- said of matter.

Their arrow's point they soften in the flame. --Gay.
   (b) To mollify; to make less fierce or intractable.

Diffidence conciliates the proud, and softens the severe. --Rambler.
   (c) To palliate; to represent as less enormous; as, to soften a fault.
   (d) To compose; to mitigate; to assuage.

Music can soften pain to ease. --Pope.
   (e) To make calm and placid.

All that cheers or softens life. --Pope.
   (f) To make less harsh, less rude, less offensive, or less violent, or to render of an opposite quality.

He bore his great commision in his look, But tempered awe, and softened all he spoke. --Dryden.
   (g) To make less glaring; to tone down; as, to soften the coloring of a picture.
   (h) To make tender; to make effeminate; to enervate; as, troops softened by luxury.

Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)