The word "softened" is spelled with the phonetic transcription /ˈsɒftənd/ in British English and /ˈsɑːftənd/ in American English. The letters "sof" are pronounced with the "o" sound as in "lot" and "not", followed by the "t" sound at the end. The "en" is pronounced with a short "e" sound and is followed by the "d" sound. The combination of "en" and "ed" is used to form the past participle of the verb "soften", meaning to make something less hard or rigid.
Softened is the past participle form of the verb "soften," which typically refers to the process of making something less firm or rigid. Alternatively, it can also describe the state of an object or substance becoming less hard, resistant, or intense.
When something is softened, it implies a reduction in its overall hardness or rigidity. This can be achieved through various means, such as applying heat, moisture, or pressure. For instance, when butter or ice cream is left at room temperature, it gradually softens, becoming easier to spread or scoop. Similarly, fabrics can be softened by washing them with fabric softener, allowing them to become more pliable and comfortable to wear.
In a more metaphorical sense, softened can describe a change in someone's demeanor or attitude to become more gentle, compassionate, or understanding. For instance, when a person's heart is softened, it means they have become more empathetic and receptive to others' emotions or needs.
Furthermore, the term "softened" can also refer to the reduction in the intensity or severity of something. This may apply to sounds, colors, flavors, or emotions becoming less harsh, dominant, or overwhelming. For example, in audio production, audio can be softened by applying filters or reducing certain frequencies to create a warmer, less sharp sound.
Overall, "softened" describes the process or state of making something less firm, rigid, harsh, intense, or resistant.
Made less hard or harsh.
Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.
* The statistics data for these misspellings percentages are collected from over 15,411,110 spell check sessions on www.spellchecker.net from Jan 2010 - Jun 2012.
The word "softened" is derived from the base word "soften", which can be traced back to the Old English word "sōfte", meaning gentle or mild. From there, it can be further traced back to the Proto-Germanic word "samftijan", which means to be gentle or calm. Ultimately, it can be linked to the Proto-Indo-European root word *sem- meaning calm or mild.