Soothe \Soothe\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Soothed; p. pr. & vb. n.
Soothing.]
[Originally, to assent to as true; OE. so?ien to
verify, AS. ges??ian to prove the truth of, to bear witness.
See Sooth, a.]
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.
Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)
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