Soothe (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Soothed (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Soothing.]
[Originally, to assent to as true; OE. so&?;ien to verify, AS.
ges&?;&?;ian to prove the truth of, to bear witness. See Sooth, a.] 1.
To assent to as true. [Obs.] Testament of Love.
2. To assent to; to comply with; to gratify; to humor by compliance; to
please with blandishments or soft words; to flatter.
Good, my lord, soothe him, let him take the fellow.
Shak.
I've tried the force of every reason on him, Soothed and caressed,
been angry, soothed again.
Addison.
3. To assuage; to mollify; to calm; to comfort; as, to soothe a crying
child; to soothe one's sorrows.
Music hath charms to soothe the savage breast, To soften rocks, or
bend a knotted oak.
Congreve.
Though the sound of Fame May for a moment soothe, it can not slake
The fever of vain longing.
Byron.
Syn. -- To soften; assuage; allay; compose; mollify; tranquilize;
pacify; mitigate.
Sooth"er (?), n. One who, or that which, soothes.
Sooth"fast` (?), a. [Sooth + fast, that is, fast or firm with respect
to truth.] Firmly fixed in, or founded upon, the thruth; true; genuine;
real; also, truthful; faithful. [Archaic] -- Sooth"fast`ness, n.
[Archaic] "In very soothfastness." Chaucer.
Why do not you . . . bear leal and soothfast evidence in her
behalf, as ye may with a clear conscience!
Sir W. Scott.