Soothe
suːð
Definitions
To gently alleviate pain, discomfort, or distress; to calm or pacify.
suːð
To ease pain or discomfort
The warm bath soothed his aching muscles after the workout.
💡 Simply: Imagine you've scraped your knee. Soothing it means to gently make the owie feel better, like putting on a bandage and giving it a little kiss. Or if your tummy hurts, a warm hug from your mom can soothe the pain.
👶 For kids: To make someone or something feel better when they are hurt or sad.
More Examples
The lullaby soothed the baby to sleep.
The balm soothed the burn.
Words of comfort often soothe a grieving person's heart.
How It's Used
"The doctor prescribed medication to soothe the patient's headache."
"She tried to soothe her crying child by rocking him gently."
Idioms & expressions
soothe the savage breast
To calm or pacify someone's anger or negative emotions, often through music, art, or gentle words.
"The music from the concert seemed to soothe the savage breast of the angry crowd."
From Old English *sōðian* 'to prove (true), comfort', related to *sōth* 'true'. The meaning evolved to encompass easing pain or distress.
Historically used in religious and literary contexts, to convey comfort or forgiveness. It's been used throughout English history with consistent meaning.
Memory tip
Think of a smooth, soft cloth used to gently rub away a painful spot.
Word Origin
"to prove (true), comfort"