A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
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First published 2001 (DOST Vol. IX).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1399-1400, 1513, 1572-1575
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Softine, v. Also: (saftene). P.p. softnyt. [ME softene (?a1400), softne (c1415), softyn (1435), ME and e.m.E. softn- (Chaucer), soften (1530); Soft adj.] a. intr. To lessen the effect of fire; without obj. b. tr. To soothe (a wound, etc.). —a. a1400 Legends of the Saints xlii 149.
Gyf be fyre thu threttis me Godis angele … Vith dew of hewine ma softine sa, That thi fyre sal me do na wa —b. 1513 Doug. xii vii 94.
The hailsum ius of herb ambrosian … This ancyent surrigian … The wond mesys, and softnyt hes of new —(b) 1572-5 Diurnal of Occurrents 88.
To pray to the eternall God that he wald astene [? read saftene] and pacifie his angerie wraith
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"Softine v.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 14 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/softine>
