different between softening vs emollient

English

Etymology 1

From Middle English softenynge, softynand, equivalent to soften +? -ing.

Verb

softening

1. present participle of soften

Etymology 2

From Middle English softenyng, softenynge, equivalent to soften +? -ing.

Noun

softening (plural softenings)

1. The process of making something soft.
2. The process of becoming soft.

Translations

English

Etymology

From French émollient, from Latin emolli?ns, present active participle of ?molli? (“make soft”), from ex- + molli?, from mollis (“soft”).

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /??m?l.?.?nt/
• (General American) IPA^(key): /??m?l.j?nt/

Noun

emollient (plural emollients)

1. Something which softens or lubricates the skin; moisturizer.
   • 2008, Carol A. Miller, Nursing for Wellness in Older Adults (Fifth edition), Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, p. 505,

     [T]he effectiveness of an emollient is based on its ability to prevent water evaporation, […]

2. Anything soothing the mind, or that makes something more acceptable.
   • 2004, David Mitchell, Cloud Atlas,

     Attentive conversation is an emollient I lack sorely aboard Prophetess & the doctor is a veritable polymath.

Translations

Adjective

emollient (comparative more emollient, superlative most emollient)

1. Moisturizing.
2. Soothing or mollifying.

Translations

Related terms

• mollify

Latin

Verb

?mollient

1. third-person plural future active indicative of ?molli?