soft English · revision 3942

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=inherited|attested=c. 1000|origins=ine-pro *sem-}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: UK /sɒft/, US /sɑːft/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|enm|softe]],^(MWU 2024)^(Barnhart 1988) [[inh|ang|sōfte|t=gentle, mild-natured; comfortable, calm; luxurious]], earlier sēfte,^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(Hoad 1986) the unmutated vowel coming from the adverb sōfte.^(Barnhart 1988)^(Hoad 1986)^(MWU 2024) It goes back to [[gem-pro|*samftijaz|t=level, even, smooth, gentle, soft]],^(Etymonline) the source also of Old Saxon sāfti, Old High German semfti and German sanft, and with -ch- of Dutch zacht and German sacht,^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986) from [[ine-pro|*sem-|t=one; as one, together with]].^(Etymonline) The etymological sense would be “smooth and agreeable”.^(Etymonline) It is related to [[same]] and [[seem]].^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Producing agreeable sensations; easy, quiet: about 1000 in the OED,^(OED 1989) in Ælfric's Homilies according to Barnhart.^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ From about 1200 of persons and hearts, “tender, yielding to emotions”, also “easily moved, docile”.^(Etymonline) Of material things, “not stiff, yielding readily to pressure”, it is from the mid-13th century,^(Etymonline) and of sounds and voices, “quiet, not loud or harsh”, from the early 13th century.^(Etymonline) From the late 14th century it also meant “indulgent” and “physically feeble, effeminate”,^(Etymonline) and “foolish, simple, silly” is from the 1620s.^(Etymonline) Of letters such as c and g pronounced with more sibilance it is from the 1630s,^(Etymonline) of water free from mineral salts from 1755,^(Etymonline) of coal from 1789,^(Etymonline) of non-alcoholic drinks by 1879,^(Etymonline) and of technology using natural resources by 1974.^(Etymonline) The adverb ''soft'' meant “gently” in Old English and “quietly” from the late 13th century,^(Etymonline) and the interjection “not so fast” is from the 1540s.^(Etymonline) As a noun, a fool, it is from 1854.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 1000 – agreeable, easy.^(OED 1989)

+ * c. 1200 – tender-hearted.^(Etymonline)

+ * early 13th century – quiet, of sound.^(Etymonline)

+ * mid-13th century – yielding to pressure.^(Etymonline)

+ * late 14th century – feeble.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1620s – foolish.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1755 – of water.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1879 – non-alcoholic.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Easily moulded, cut or worked; yielding readily to pressure.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # Smooth or fine to the touch.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # Not loud or harsh; quiet.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # Not bright or glaring; subdued.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # Mild; [[balmy]]: ''a soft breeze''.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # Gentle, kind or lenient.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # Out of condition; flabby.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # Of water, low in dissolved mineral salts.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # Of a drink, non-alcoholic.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # Of a consonant such as c or g, pronounced as a [[fricative]] or [[sibilant]].^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+

+ ===Adverb===

+ # Gently; softly.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+

+ ===Noun===

+ # A soft object or part.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[softly]]

+ * [[softness]]

+ * [[softish]]

+ * [[soften]]

+ * [[softy]]

+ * [[oversoft]]

+ * [[semisoft]]

+ * [[softback]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[same]]

+ * [[seem]]

+ * [[software]]

+ * [[softball]]

+ * [[seemly]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}