Soften, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Softened; p. pr. & vb. n. Softening.]
To make soft or more soft. Specifically: -- (a) To render less hard; -- said of matter. Their arrow's point they soften in the flame. Gay.
(b) To mollify; to make less fierce or intractable. Diffidence conciliates the proud, and softens the severe. Rambler.
(c) To palliate; to represent as less enormous; as, to soften a fault. (d) To compose; to mitigate; to assuage. Music can soften pain to ease. Pope. (e) To make calm and placid. All that cheers or softens life. Pope.
(f) To make less harsh, less rude, less offensive, or less violent, or to render of an opposite quality. He bore his great commision in his look, But tempered awe, and softened all he spoke. Dryden.
1 more senses
(g) To make less glaring; to tone down; as, to soften the coloring of a picture. (h) To make tender; to make effeminate; to enervate; as, troops softened by luxury. (i) To make less harsh or grating, or of a quality the opposite; as, to soften the voice.
1 other Webster entry under this spelling
Soften, v. i.
To become soft or softened, or less rude, harsh, severe, or obdurate.
Shades of meaning
Fernald has no entry of its own for soften; he lists it under alleviate, chasten.
Where he writes about it:
We abate a fever; lessen anxiety; moderate passions or desires; lighten burdens; mitigate or alleviate pain; reduce inflammation; soften, assuage, or moderate grief; we lighten or mitigate punishments; we relieve any suffering of body or mind that admits of help, comfort, or remedy. — from alleviate