SOFTLY

softly, quietly

(adverb) with low volume; “speak softly but carry a big stick”; “she spoke quietly to the child”; “the radio was playing softly”

lightly, softly, gently

(adverb) with little weight or force; “she kissed him lightly on the forehead”

piano, softly

(adverb) used as a direction in music; to be played relatively softly

softly

(adverb) in a manner that is pleasing to the senses; “she smiled softly”

Source: WordNet® 3.1

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Etymology

Adverb

softly (comparative softlier or more softly, superlative softliest or most softly)

In a soft manner; gently.

Not loudly; nearly inaudible.

Source: Wiktionary

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Soft"ly, adv.

Definition: In a soft manner.

SOFT

Soft, a. [Compar. Softer; superl. Softest.] Etym: [OE. softe, AS. s, properly adv. of s, adj.; akin to OS. safto, adv., D. zacht, OHG. samfto, adv., semfti, adj., G. sanft, LG. sacht; of uncertain origin.]

1. Easily yielding to pressure; easily impressed, molded, or cut; not firm in resisting; impressible; yielding; also, malleable; -- opposed to Ant: hard; as, a soft bed; a soft peach; soft earth; soft wood or metal.

2. Not rough, rugged, or harsh to the touch; smooth; delicate; fine; as, soft silk; a soft skin. They that wear soft clothing are in king's houses. Matt. xi. 8.

3. Hence, agreeable to feel, taste, or inhale; not irritating to the tissues; as, a soft liniment; soft wines. "The soft, delicious air." Milton.

4. Not harsh or offensive to the sight; not glaring; pleasing to the eye; not exciting by intensity of color or violent contrast; as, soft hues or tints. The sun, shining upon the upper part of the clouds . . . made the softest lights imaginable. Sir T. Browne.

5. Not harsh or rough in sound; gentle and pleasing to the ear; flowing; as, soft whispers of music. Her voice was ever soft, Gentle, and low, -- an excellent thing in woman. Shak. Soft were my numbers; who could take offense Pope.

6. Easily yielding; susceptible to influence; flexible; gentle; kind. I would to God my heart were flint, like Edward's; Or Edward's soft and pitiful, like mine. Shak. The meek or soft shall inherit the earth. Tyndale.

7. Expressing gentleness, tenderness, or the like; mild; conciliatory; courteous; kind; as, soft eyes. A soft answer turneth away wrath. Prov. xv. 1. A face with gladness overspread, Soft smiles, by human kindness bred. Wordsworth.

8. Effeminate; not courageous or manly, weak. A longing after sensual pleasures is a dissolution of the spirit of a man, and makes it loose, soft, and wandering. Jer. Taylor.

9. Gentle in action or motion; easy. On her soft axle, white she paces even, And bears thee soft with the smooth air along. Milton.

10. Weak in character; impressible. The deceiver soon found this soft place of Adam's. Glanvill.

11. Somewhat weak in intellect. [Colloq.] He made soft fellows stark noddies, and such as were foolish quite mad. Burton.

12. Quiet; undisturbed; paceful; as, soft slumbers.

13. Having, or consisting of, a gentle curve or curves; not angular or abrupt; as, soft outlines.

14. Not tinged with mineral salts; adapted to decompose soap; as, soft water is the best for washing.

15. (Phonetics) (a) Applied to a palatal, a sibilant, or a dental consonant (as g in gem, c in cent, etc.) as distinguished from a guttural mute (as g in go, c in cone, etc.); -- opposed to hard. (b) Belonging to the class of sonant elements as distinguished from the surd, and considered as involving less force in utterance; as, b, d, g, z, v, etc., in contrast with p, t, k, s, f, etc. Soft clam (Zoöl.), the common or long clam (Mya arenaria). See Mya.

– Soft coal, bituminous coal, as distinguished from anthracite, or hard, coal.

– Soft crab (Zoöl.), any crab which has recently shed its shell.

– Soft dorsal (Zoöl.), the posterior part of the dorsal fin of fishes when supported by soft rays.

– Soft grass. (Bot.) See Velvet grass.

– Soft money, paper money, as distinguished from coin, or hard money. [Colloq. U.S.] -- Soft mute. (Phonetics) See Media.

– Soft palate. See the Note under Palate.

– Soft ray (Zoöl.), a fin ray which is articulated and usually branched.

– Soft soap. See under Soap.

– Soft-tack, leavened bread, as distinguished from hard-tack, or ship bread.

– Soft tortoise (Zoöl.), any river tortoise of the genus Trionyx. See Trionyx.

Soft, n.

Definition: A soft or foolish person; an idiot. [Colloq.] G. Eliot.

Soft, adv.

Definition: Softly; without roughness or harshness; gently; quietly. Chaucer. A knight soft riding toward them. Spenser.

Soft, interj.

Definition: Be quiet; hold; stop; not so fast. Soft, you; a word or two before you go. Shak.

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition

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