soothe

Verb

WordNet 3.0

Verb (2)

give moral or emotional strength toSynonyms: comfort console solace
cause to feel better“the medicine soothes the pain of the inflammation”

Webster's Dictionary (GCIDE)

Soothe \Soothe\ (s[=oo][th]), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Soothed; p. pr. & vb. n. Soothing.] [Originally, to assent to as true; OE. so[eth]ien to verify, AS. ges[=o][eth]ian to prove the truth of, to bear witness. See Sooth, a.]

1.To assent to as true. [Obs.] --Testament of Love. [1913 Webster]

2.To assent to; to comply with; to gratify; to humor by compliance; to please with blandishments or soft words; to flatter. [1913 Webster]

Good, my lord, soothe him, let him take the fellow.— Shak.[1913 Webster]

I've tried the force of every reason on him, Soothed and caressed, been angry, soothed again.— Addison.[1913 Webster]

3.To assuage; to mollify; to calm; to comfort; as, to soothe a crying child; to soothe one's sorrows. [1913 Webster]

Music hath charms to soothe the savage breast, To soften rocks, or bend a knotted oak.— Congreve.[1913 Webster]

Though the sound of Fame May for a moment soothe, it can not slake The fever of vain longing.— Byron.[1913 Webster]

Syn: To soften; assuage; allay; compose; mollify; tranquilize; pacify; mitigate. [1913 Webster]