softener (sofner)

[ His [Milton's] hand falls on his subject without the softener of cuff or ruffle. Landor , Imag. Conv., Andrew Marvel and Bp. Parker. IMG:content-1471.png:[blocks in formation] to spread vitrifiable color thinly and uniformly on the biscuit. softening (sôf'ning), n. [Verbal n. of soften, v.] 1. The act of making soft or softer.-2. In painting, the blending of colors into each other. -3. In pathol., a diminution of the natural and healthy firmne of organs or parts of organs; mollities. - Cerebral softening, softening of the brain.- Colloidal softening. Same as colloid degeneration (which see, under colloid ). - Softening of the brain, an affection of some part or parts of the brain, in which it is necrosed and softened. Red, yellow, but most frequently dependent on inflammation.