Soffit
(Sof"fit) n. [It. soffitta, soffitto, fr. soffiggere to hide, properly, to fix or fasten under, L. suffigere
to fasten beneath or below; sub under, beneath + figere to fix, faste: cf. F. soffite.] (Arch.) The under
side of the subordinate parts and members of buildings, such as staircases, entablatures, archways,
cornices, or the like. See Illust. of Lintel.
Sofi
(So"fi) n.; pl. Sofis Same as Sufi.
Sofism
(So"fism) n. Same as Sufism.
Soft
(Soft) a. [Compar. Softer ; superl. Softest.] [OE. softe, AS. sfte, properly adv. of sfte, adj.; akin
to OS. safto, adv., D. zacht, OHG. samfto, adv., semfti, adj., G. sanft, LG. sacht; of uncertain origin.]
1. Easily yielding to pressure; easily impressed, molded, or cut; not firm in resisting; impressible; yielding; also,
malleable; — opposed to hard; as, a soft bed; a soft peach; soft earth; soft wood or metal.
2. Not rough, rugged, or harsh to the touch; smooth; delicate; fine; as, soft silk; a soft skin.
They that wear soft clothing are in king's houses.
Matt. xi. 8. 3. Hence, agreeable to feel, taste, or inhale; not irritating to the tissues; as, a soft liniment; soft wines.
"The soft, delicious air." Milton.
4. Not harsh or offensive to the sight; not glaring; pleasing to the eye; not exciting by intensity of color or
violent contrast; as, soft hues or tints.
The sun, shining upon the upper part of the clouds . . . made the softest lights imaginable.
Sir T. Browne. 5. Not harsh or rough in sound; gentle and pleasing to the ear; flowing; as, soft whispers of music.
Her voice was ever soft,
Gentle, and low, — an excellent thing in woman.
Shak.
Soft were my numbers; who could take offense?
Pope. 6. Easily yielding; susceptible to influence; flexible; gentle; kind.
I would to God my heart were flint, like Edward's;
Or Edward's soft and pitiful, like mine.
Shak.
The meek or soft shall inherit the earth.
Tyndale. 7. Expressing gentleness, tenderness, or the like; mild; conciliatory; courteous; kind; as, soft eyes.
A soft answer turneth away wrath.
Prov. xv. 1.
A face with gladness overspread,
Soft smiles, by human kindness bred.
Wordsworth. 8. Effeminate; not courageous or manly, weak.
A longing after sensual pleasures is a dissolution of the spirit of a man, and makes it loose, soft, and
wandering.
Jer. Taylor. 9. Gentle in action or motion; easy.
On her soft axle, white she paces even,
And bears thee soft with the smooth air along.
Milton. 10. Weak in character; impressible.
The deceiver soon found this soft place of Adam's.
Glanvill.
