Soothe (so͞ot͡h), v. t. [imp. & p. p.Soothed (so͞ot͡hd); p. pr. & vb. n.Soothing.] [Originally, to assent to as true; OE. soðien to verify, AS. gesōðian to prove the truth of, to bear witness. See Sooth, a.] 1. To assent to as true. 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.