to soothe
Definition
Meaning: Soothe means "to gently calm, comfort, or relieve someone or something." It is often used when talking about reducing pain, anxiety, or distress, either physically or emotionally.
La signification : Soothe signifie « apaiser », « calmer » ou « soulager ». On l’utilise pour décrire l’action de rendre quelqu’un ou quelque chose plus calme, ou de diminuer une douleur ou une gêne.
Example: "She tried to soothe the crying baby by rocking him gently."
Grammar:The verb can refer to both people and things (e.g., "soothe a headache").
Quote: "There is more to life than increasing its speed. Sometimes, slowing down and being soothed by the simple things can bring the greatest peace." [Mahatma Gandhi]
Word Analysis
French equivalents »» Apaiser »» Calmer »» Soulager Ⓐ Elle a essayé d'apaiser le bébé qui pleurait. Ⓑ Ce baume peut soulager la douleur. English equivalents »» Calm »» Comfort »» Relieve Ⓐ The music helped soothe his nerves. Ⓑ This cream will soothe your skin.
Dialogue
Maria: "My son can't sleep. Do you have any advice?"
Dr. Lee: "Try to soothe him with a warm bath and gentle music."
Maria: "Thank you, I'll try that tonight."
Poem Extract
After the Loss of a Limb
After the family surgeon has severed my hand and wrist from the forearm,
And I have carefully washed the separated hand with the connected hand,
And done its fingernails, and put a drop of perfume at the pulse of the wrist,
And soothed the hand, and stroked it, and spoken to it
Until it understands everything, why the operation was necessary,
And I have kissed each finger before picking it up by the thumb
And packing it with coloured tissue in a nice box,
And with some difficulty wrapped it and sent it away,
And when you receive the package and open the box and find
That I have sent you my hand, my wrist, and the first three inches of my forearm,
You must care for the fingernails, clean them and polish them...
Elena Wilkinson
Read the Full Poem
Etymology
Origin: From Middle English sothen (“to verify, prove the validity of”), from Old English sōthian (“to verify, prove, confirm, bear witness to”), related to Old Norse sanna (“to assert”). The sense shifted from “to verify” to “to support or encourage” and finally “to calm or relieve.”
Modern Usage: Common in both everyday and professional English, especially in medical and caregiving contexts.
Grammar Note: Soothe is a regular verb: soothe, soothes, soothed, soothing.
Audience
Soothe is widely used in both spoken and written English, especially in medical, caregiving, and business contexts.
When to use: Use this verb when you want to express the act of calming a person or relieving pain/discomfort. Example: “A nurse may soothe a patient’s anxiety before surgery.”
Extra! Extra!
For a fun and engaging exploration of our word of the day, watch the following…Soothe: Meaning, Examples, Definition
The Meaning of 'Soothing'
WordReference
For more on idiomatic usage, visit the WordReference Forums for discussions, translations, and examples of "soothe" in context.
Here are some quick links for further exploration:
» English⇄English – Discuss and learn about words and their usage.
» English⇄French – Explore translations and linguistic nuances.
» Synonyms⇄Antonyms – Contextual variations, etc.
Common Idioms & Expressions Related to "Soothe"
Pour oil on troubled waters
To try to calm a difficult or tense situation.
Example: "She tried to pour oil on troubled waters after the argument."
Calm someone down
To help someone become less upset or angry.
Example: "He spoke softly to calm her down."
Take the edge off
To make something less intense, especially pain or discomfort.
Example: "This medicine will take the edge off your headache."
Settle someone's nerves
To help someone feel less anxious.
Example: "A cup of tea helped settle her nerves before the interview."
Soothing words
Words that comfort or calm someone.
Example: "The doctor's soothing words reassured the patient."
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