mollification (molifikashon)

[F. moll i fication = Pr. mollificacio = Sp. molificacion = Pg. mollificação = It. moll if i caz i one, moll if i care , soften: see mol lify.] 1. The act of mollifying or softening. For induration, or mollification , it is to be enquired what will make metals harder and harder, and what will make them softer and softer. Bacon , Physiological Remains. 2. Pacification; an appeasing; something that will soothe. Some mollification for your giant, sweet lady. mollifier (mol'i-fi-er), n. which mollifies. Bacon. Shak., T. N., i. 5. 218. One who or that mollify (mol'i-fi), v.; pret. and pp. mollified, ppr. mollifying. [ When they haue killed a great beast, they cut out all the veines and sinewes and likewise all the Suet: which done, they diue them in water to mollifie them. Purchas , Pilgrimage, p. 213. Isa. i. 6. They have not been closed, neither bound up, neither mollified with ointment. 2. To soothe; mitigate; appease; pacify; calm or quiet. All things tending to the preservation of his life and health, or to the mollifying of his cares, he [a king religious and zealous in God's cause) procureth. Raleigh, Hist. World, V. ii. 3. Chiron mollify'd his cruel mind With art, and taught his warlike hands to wind The silver strings of his melodious lyre. Dryden, tr. of Ovid's Art of Love, i. 3. To make le harsh; qualify; tone down; moderate; abate. Mince the sin and mollify damnation with a phrase. Dryden. They would... sooner prevail with the houses to mol lify their demands. Clarendon, Great Rebellion. 4. To induce or incline by making tender. 3824 If it wrought no further good in him, it was that he, in despight of himselfe, withdrewe himselfe from harkening which might mollifie his hardened heart. Sir P. Sidney, Apol, for Poetrie. I shall deliver words will mollify The hearts of beasts to spare thy innocence. Beau . and Fl ., Phil aster, v. 2. =Syn. 2 and 3. To mitigate, ease, moderate.-2. To soothe, quiet. II. in trans. To become soft or tender. [Rare.] Philanax, feeling his heart more and more mollifying unto her, renewed the image of his dead master in his Sir P. Sidney, Arcadia, iv. The angler or goose fancy.