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soothe
[ sooth ]
/ suð /
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verb (used with object), soothed, sooth·ing.
to tranquilize or calm (a person or their emotions); relieve, comfort, or refresh: soothing someone's anger;to soothe someone with a hot drink.
to mitigate, assuage, or allay, as pain, sorrow, or doubt: to soothe sunburned skin.
verb (used without object), soothed, sooth·ing.
to exert a calming influence; bring tranquility, ease, or comfort: a soft-spoken poem that soothes like a lullaby.
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Origin of soothe
First recorded before 950; Middle English sothen âto bear witness, confirm, verify,â Old English sĆthian âto prove trueâ; the Modern English sense shift âto verifyâ becomes âto support (a person's statement),â then âto encourage,â and finally âto calmâ; see origin at sooth
OTHER WORDS FROM soothe
soother, nounself-soothed, adjectiveun·soothed, adjectiveWords nearby soothe
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
How to use soothe in a sentence
British Dictionary definitions for soothe
soothe
/ (suËð) /
verb
(tr) to make calm or tranquil
(tr) to relieve or assuage (pain, longing, etc)
(intr) to bring tranquillity or relief
Derived forms of soothe
soother, nounWord Origin for soothe
C16 (in the sense: to mollify): from Old English sĆthian to prove; related to Old Norse sanna to assert; see sooth
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
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