Mollify
/ˈmɒl.ɪ.faɪ/noun
To calm, soften, or soothe someone’s anger or feelings.
Did you know?Mollify comes from Latin *mollificare*, built from *mollis* (“soft”), and its older force was physical before it became emotional — a classic example of language turning touch into persuasion.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*mel-
“to be soft, weak, or tender”
Latin
Latin
mollis
“soft, tender, pliant”
Late Latin
Latin
mollificare
“to soften, make mild”
Old French
Old French
mollifier
“to soften, appease”
Middle English
English
mollifien
“to soften in body or temper”
Modern English
English
mollify
“to calm or soothe anger, anxiety, or pain”