Soft
/sɒft/noun
Easy to press, cut, or shape; not firm or hard.
Did you know?English soft comes from Proto-Germanic *samftaz*, and its deeper relatives are tied to the same ancient root that gave us words for being tame, gentle, and even soothed into calm.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*sem-
“to unite, join together; one, together”
Proto-Germanic
PGmc
*samftaz
“gentle, soft, mild”
Old English
English
sōfte
“soft, gentle, mild, quiet”
Middle English
English
soft
“soft; not hard; gentle in manner”
Modern English
English
soft
“easy to press, cut, or shape; not firm or hard”