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Soothe vs Console - What's the difference?

soothe | console |

In transitive terms the difference between soothe and console

is that soothe is to ease or relieve pain or suffering while console is to comfort (someone) in a time of grief, disappointment, etc.

As verbs the difference between soothe and console

is that soothe is to prove true; verify; confirm as true while console is to comfort (someone) in a time of grief, disappointment, etc.

As a noun console is

a cabinet designed to stand on the floor, especially one that houses home entertainment equipment, such as a TV or stereo system.

soothe

English

Verb

(sooth)
  • (obsolete) To prove true; verify; confirm as true.
  • (obsolete) To confirm the statements of; maintain the truthfulness of (a person); bear out.
  • (obsolete) To assent to; yield to; humour by agreement or concession.
  • To keep in good humour; wheedle; cajole; flatter.
  • To restore to ease, comfort, or tranquility; relieve; calm; quiet; refresh.
  • * 2013 , Daniel Taylor, Andros Townsend calms England's nerves in taming of Montenegro'' (in ''The Guardian , 11 October 2013)[http://www.theguardian.com/football/2013/oct/11/england-montenegro-world-cup-qualifier]
  • Yet Wayne Rooney scored at a good time, three minutes after the restart, to soothe any gathering nerves and the night can ultimately be chalked off as one of the finest occasions of Hodgson's 17 months in the job.
  • To allay; assuage; mitigate; soften.
  • (rare) To smooth over; render less obnoxious.
  • To calm or placate someone or some situation.
  • To ease or relieve pain or suffering.
  • To temporise by assent, concession, flattery, or cajolery.
  • To bring comfort or relief.
  • Derived terms

    * soothing

    console

    English

    Etymology 1

    From (etyl)

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • A cabinet designed to stand on the floor, especially one that houses home entertainment equipment, such as a TV or stereo system.
  • A cabinet that controls, instruments, and displays are mounted upon.
  • The keyboard and screen of a computer or other electronic device.
  • A storage tray or container mounted between the seats of an automobile.
  • (video games) A device dedicated to playing video games, set apart from arcade cabinets by its ability to change games.
  • (architecture) An ornamental member jutting out of a wall to carry a superincumbent weight.
  • Derived terms
    * console table
    See also
    * corbel

    Etymology 2

    From (etyl)

    Verb

    (consol)
  • To comfort (someone) in a time of grief, disappointment, etc.
  • * P. Henry
  • I am much consoled by the reflection that the religion of Christ has been attacked in vain by all the wits and philosophers, and its triumph has been complete.
  • * 1856 : (Gustave Flaubert), (Madame Bovary), Part III Chapter X, translated by Eleanor Marx-Aveling
  • "Do you remember, my friend, that I went to Tostes once when you had just lost your first deceased? I consoled you at that time. I thought of something to say then, but now—" Then, with a loud groan that shook his whole chest, "Ah! this is the end for me, do you see! I saw my wife go, then my son, and now to-day it's my daughter."
    Synonyms
    * comfort, solace
    Derived terms
    * consolable * consolation * consolatory * consoler * consoling * consolingly