Mellowing
/ˈmɛl.oʊ.ɪŋ/noun
Becoming soft, ripe, or less harsh in flavor, color, or temperament.
Did you know?English mellow comes from Old English melu, meaning “soft, tender, ripe,” and its deeper history is linked to the idea of something becoming fully ripened rather than weak or dull.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*mel-
“To grind, crush, or make soft.”
Old English
OE
melu
“Soft, tender, ripe; mellow.”
Middle English
ME
melowe
“Ripe, soft, pleasant, not harsh.”
Late Middle English
ME
mellown
“To make or become mellow.”
Modern English
English
mellowing
“Becoming softer, riper, or less severe.”