mollĭo, īvi and ii, ītum, 4 (mollibat for molliebat, Att. ap. Non. 347, 16; Ov. M. 6, 21: mollirier for molliri, Ter. Phorm. 632), v. a. [mollis], to make soft, pliant, flexible, or supple, to soften (class.).
I Lit.: frigoribus durescit umor, et idem vicissim mollitur tepefactus, Cic. N. D. 2, 10, 26: lanam trahendo, by spinning , Ov. M. 2, 411: artus oleo, Liv. 21, 55: dum ferrum molliat ignis, Hor. S. 1, 4, 20: ceram, Ov. M. 8, 198: semina, id. ib. 7, 123: humum foliis, id. ib. 4, 741: glebas, id. ib. 6, 220: ventrem, to relax, purge moderately , Plin. 20, 5, 20, § 43: duritias, id. 28, 17, 70, § 34: agri molliti, softened, loosened , Cic. N. D. 2, 50, 130.—
II Trop.
A To soften, moderate, mitigate; to tame, restrain, check; to render easier, lighter, pleasanter , or less disagreeable : Hannibalem juveniliter exsultantem patientiā suā molliebat, Cic. Sen. 4, 10: quā mons mollibat mare, broke the violence of the sea , Att. ap. Non. 347, 16: iras, Liv. 1, 9: impetum, id. 3, 35: indocili numero cum grave mollit opus, Ov. Tr. 4, 1, 6: poenam, id. ib. 3, 5, 53: clivum, to make the ascent of a hill easier , Caes. B. G. 7, 46: clivos, Liv. 21, 37, 3: verba usu, Cic. N. D. 1, 34, 95: translationem, id. de Or. 3, 41, 165: fructus feros colendo, to render milder , Verg. G. 2, 36: caelum, Plin. 2, 47, 47, § 124: lacrimae meorum me interdum molliunt, overcome me , Cic. Att. 10, 9, 2: Deus mollivit cor meum, softened , Vulg. Job, 23, 16.—
B To soften, render effeminate or unmanly : legionem, Cic. Phil. 12, 3, 8: animos, id. Tusc. 2, 11, 27: vocem, to make soft or womanish , Quint. 11, 3, 24: puerum, to unman , Stat. S. 3, 4, 68.