Word-built world: soothe

Check out the etymology of this word.

–Mike Zonta, BB editor

Definitions from Oxford Languages · Learn more

soothe

/so͞oT͟H/

verb: soothe; 3rd person present: soothes; past tense: soothed; past participle: soothed; gerund or present participle: soothing

  1. gently calm (a person or their feelings).”a shot of brandy might soothe his nerves”
    • reduce pain or discomfort in (a part of the body).”to soothe the skin try chamomile or thyme”
    • relieve or ease (pain).”it contains a mild anesthetic to soothe the pain”

Origin

Old English sōthian ‘verify, show to be true’, from sōth ‘true’ (see sooth). In the 16th century the verb passed through the senses ‘corroborate (a statement’), ‘humor (a person) by expressing assent’ and ‘flatter by one’s assent’, whence ‘mollify, appease’ (late 17th century).

Bonus word:

Definitions from Oxford Languages · Learn more

sooth

/so͞oTH/

archaic

noun: sooth

  1. truth.

Phrases

in sooth — in truth; really.

Origin

Old English sōth (originally as an adjective in the sense ‘genuine, true’), of Germanic origin.

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